ietnam’s diabetic numbers growing unnoticed: project

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The number of diabetes patients in Vietnam is increasing at one of the highest rates in the world with around 65 percent of people with diabetes unaware they are affected, health experts said Thursday.

The number of diabetics increases 8-10 percent every year, Vietnam Medical Association and the Construction Informatics and Consultancy Joint Stock Company said in their national communication joint-project on how to fight and prevent diabetes. Pham Song, chairman of the association, said 4 percent of urban residents in Vietnam have the disease with 2.5 percent in rural areas, accounting for 4.5 million patients across the country. The project aims to raise around US$5 million from individuals and businesses to establish consultancy channels and stronger connections between doctors and patients. The funds will also be used for public education specifically targeting the most vulnerable such as overweight children and people who don’t do physical exercise. Reported by Nam Son