Rally in response to National Iodized Salt Day and World Diabetes Day

Delegates attended the rally in response to National Iodized Salt Day and World Diabetes Day.

Attending the ceremony were leaders of: Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Management, Department of Disease Prevention, Center for Health Education and Communication (Ministry of Health); Central Endocrinology Hospital; Ninh Binh Provincial Department of Health; Ninh Binh Department of Culture and Sports; Nam Dinh Ward People's Committee; Nam Dinh Endocrinology Hospital and leaders of Endocrinology Hospitals of the provinces: Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Lao Cai, Bac Ninh...

Leaders of the Central Endocrinology Hospital spoke at the rally in response to the National Day for the Use of Iodized Salt and World Diabetes Day.

In 2025, the theme of World Diabetes Day is "Diabetes and overall well-being", to highlight the importance of diabetes management and care in the context of overall health.

According to data from the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) in 2025, 11.1% of adults in the world (aged 20-79, equivalent to 1/9 of the population) are living with diabetes. In Vietnam, according to a 2020 survey by the Central Endocrinology Hospital: The rate of people with diabetes is 7.3%, the rate of people with pre-diabetes is 17.8%, more than 60% of people with diabetes have not been diagnosed. More than half of adults have never had a blood sugar test to detect the disease.

Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disease. If not controlled promptly, the disease will cause complications, serious damage to body parts, especially cardiovascular, kidney, and neurological complications... Early detection and good control of blood sugar, blood pressure, and other risk factors can reduce complications by up to 80%, while minimizing the economic and mental burden for the patient and his family.

Early detection and good control of diabetes is very important for overall health. However, to protect public health in general and improve physical and mental health in particular, we cannot ignore an essential and easily supplemented micronutrient: iodine.

In 1994, the Prime Minister issued Decision 481/TTg on organizing and mobilizing people to buy and use iodized salt to prevent and combat iodine deficiency disorders, to improve the intelligence and physical health of the race. The Government took that as a milestone, and designated November 2nd every year as the Day for the entire population to buy and use iodized salt.

On January 28, 2016, the Government issued Decree No. 09/2016/ND-CP regulating the fortification of micronutrients in food, in which salt used for direct consumption and used in food processing must be fortified with iodine. In 2005, Vietnam successfully eliminated iodine deficiency disorders (the coverage rate of iodized salt in the population reached over 90%, the rate of goiter in children decreased to below 3.6%, the median urinary iodine level reached over 10 mcg/dl).

However, according to the investigation results of the Central Endocrinology Hospital and other agencies and organizations (General Statistics Office, UNICEF, WHO), iodine deficiency has shown signs of returning to Vietnam. Iodine deficiency causes many serious consequences affecting intelligence, physical strength, learning ability, labor and the development of the race. Preventing iodine deficiency is very easy and simple by purchasing and using salt and salty spices containing iodine in daily meals.

Leaders of Ninh Binh Department of Health spoke at the rally.

At the rally, the leaders of Ninh Binh Department of Health called for the support of all levels of government, departments, branches, unions, international organizations, businesses, public and private medical units and the entire community to pay attention, support and join hands to promote socialization in diabetes prevention and control activities in Ninh Binh.

The Department of Health requested Nam Dinh Endocrinology Hospital and medical units in the whole province to strengthen management work, actively deploy specific solutions to complete the goals, as well as the messages that the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Ministry of Health are calling on all of humanity to stand together to fight diabetes.

Medical staff examine and test blood sugar to detect diabetes early; advise and guide treatment for people with endocrine diseases, diabetes and thyroid diseases.

Within the framework of the rally, the Central Endocrinology Hospital and Nam Dinh Endocrinology Hospital provided free examination and blood sugar testing to detect diabetes early. Treatment consultation for people with problems with endocrinology - diabetes, thyroid disease in the locality...

News and photos: Thanh Trung

Source: https://baoninhbinh.org.vn/mit-tinh-huong-ung-ngay-toan-dan-su-dung-muoi-i-ot-va-ngay-the-gioi-phong-chong-251112140650985.html