The entire population should take preventive measures early and proactively.

Báo Quốc Tế•27/12/2023

On December 27th, in Hanoi, the Ministry of Health organized a rally to commemorate the 2023 International Day for Disease Prevention and Control with the message: "The whole population and society participate in disease prevention and control."

Toàn dân phòng bệnh từ sớm, từ xa - kim chỉ nam giúp hạn chế dịch bệnh bùng phát

Overview of the rally in response to the International Day for the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases 2023, held on the morning of December 27th in Hanoi . (Photo: Tuan Viet)

The event was attended by representatives from various ministries, departments, and localities, as well as representatives from local governments and international organizations in Vietnam.

In her opening remarks at the ceremony, Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Lien Huong emphasized that the Ministry of Health calls on all citizens and the community to raise awareness of disease prevention and strengthen health; regularly and actively participate in disease prevention and control activities; and requests that all sectors and localities coordinate, direct local authorities at all levels, and mobilize the entire society, political organizations, and associations to participate in disease prevention and control work to proactively prevent disease early and from afar, limit disease outbreaks, and always be prepared to respond to future pandemics and emergency situations related to epidemics.

Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Lien Huong speaks at the ceremony. (Photo: Tuan Viet)

The recent COVID-19 pandemic has yielded many invaluable lessons regarding the direction and management of socio-economic affairs, especially for the care and protection of public health in general and pandemic prevention and control in particular.

Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Lien Huong affirmed that, in order to prevent disease early and from afar, to limit disease outbreaks and proactively prepare for future pandemics or disease emergencies, the Ministry of Health will focus on organizing and implementing tasks and solutions as directed by the Central Committee, the National Assembly, the Government, and the Prime Minister. This includes implementing Directive 25-CT/TW dated October 25, 2023, of the Party Central Committee; Resolution 99/2023/QH15 of the National Assembly and Resolution No. 218/NQ-CP dated December 18, 2023; and continuing to proactively promote access to global health security in disease prevention and control to share information and experiences through bilateral and multilateral cooperation mechanisms based on inter-sectoral and multi-field coordination, demonstrating Vietnam's sense of responsibility and its commitment to the international community in responding to epidemics.

Hưởng ứng ngày quốc tế phòng chống dịch bệnh

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Do Hung Viet speaks at the event. (Photo: Tuan Viet)

Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Do Hung Viet affirmed that activities commemorating International Day for the Prevention and Control of Diseases on a global scale are of paramount importance, reminding people of the impacts that diseases have had and may have. From this, all citizens become aware of the importance of disease prevention, raising awareness, exchanging scientific knowledge and information, and sharing experiences and best practices to educate and disseminate information on disease prevention and response.

At the same time, commemorative activities will also help us improve our readiness to respond more quickly, effectively, and appropriately to any potential epidemic. In particular, it is necessary to strengthen the effectiveness of the community health system.

Furthermore, activities commemorating International Epidemic Prevention Day reaffirm the importance of multilateralism, international cooperation, and international solidarity among individuals, communities, nations, regional organizations, and international organizations at all stages of epidemic management.

Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Lien Huong and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Do Hung Viet, along with other delegates, pressed the button to commemorate International Day for the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases 2023. (Photo: Tuan Viet)

On December 7, 2020, the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution A/RES/75/27 designating December 27th as the International Day for the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases. This is the first UN General Assembly resolution in the field of health proposed by Vietnam. The Prime Minister has assigned the Ministry of Health to proactively organize and mobilize organizations and individuals both domestically and internationally to hold activities commemorating the International Day for the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases annually.

Based on lessons learned from the Covid-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Health has chosen the theme for the 2023 International Day for Disease Prevention and Control as "The whole population and society participate in disease prevention and control".

On International Day for the Prevention and Control of Diseases 2023, the UN Secretary-General issued a message of support: "Learning from the lessons of the Covid-19 pandemic, let us act together for a healthier, more equitable world."

The communication messages in response to the 2023 International Day for Disease Prevention and Control, themed "The whole population and society participate in disease prevention and control," developed by the Ministry of Health include:

(1) The whole people and the whole society participate in disease prevention and control;

(2) Do not be complacent, negligent, or lose vigilance;

(3) Proactively prevent diseases early, from afar, and from the grassroots level;

(4) Prevent and control diseases to protect the health of yourself, your family and the community;

(5) Regularly wash hands and maintain personal hygiene to prevent and control infectious diseases;

(6) Eat cooked food, drink boiled water, ensure food safety to prevent and control diseases;

(7) Regularly maintain personal hygiene, environmental hygiene, and living space hygiene to prevent the development of pathogens;

(8) Vaccination is an effective measure to proactively prevent and control diseases;

(9) Safe sex to prevent and control sexually transmitted diseases;

(10) Adopt a scientific lifestyle and adequate nutrition to strengthen resistance;

(11) Avoid contact with sick or dead animals and do not use unsafe food;

(12) Winter-spring disease prevention and control: keep the body warm; exercise and sports; improve physical condition;