Speaking at the conference, Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Lien Huong emphasized that the Covid-19 pandemic is a wake-up call for the whole world about the fragility of the healthcare system and the serious impact on economic and social life. Although the crisis has temporarily passed, the lessons from the pandemic remain.

Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Lien Huong spoke at the event.

The Deputy Minister of Health called on people to raise awareness of disease prevention, protect personal, family and community health, and encourage all levels, sectors and social organizations to coordinate to prevent and control infectious diseases early.

In 2024, Vietnam has controlled the situation of infectious diseases well, with a sharp decrease in endemic diseases such as dengue fever, hand, foot and mouth disease and malaria compared to 2023.

However, some infectious diseases, such as measles, whooping cough, and rabies, have tended to increase locally. In particular, although Vietnam faced a major typhoon Yagi, epidemic prevention and control work was proactively deployed, helping to prevent large outbreaks after natural disasters.

The Ministry of Health continues to call on localities to effectively implement the 2025 disease prevention and control plan, improve preventive medicine capacity, monitor disease outbreaks, and prepare timely response plans.

The health sector hopes to receive support from all agencies, international organizations and the social community to create a safe and healthy living environment for people.

Take preventive measures: Wash hands regularly with soap or antibacterial hand sanitizer, eat cooked food, boil water, and ensure food safety.

Environmental hygiene: Maintain personal hygiene and environmental hygiene to prevent the growth of pathogens. Full vaccination: This is an effective measure to prevent infectious diseases and reduce the risk of serious illness and death.

Hygiene and proper nutrition: Practice a scientific lifestyle, adequate nutrition and exercise to increase resistance. Ensure safety when in contact with animals: Do not come into contact with sick or dead animals and do not use unsafe food.

Use antibiotics appropriately: Do not buy and use antibiotics on your own when treating diseases, to avoid drug resistance. Wear a mask and prevent disease during the epidemic season: Wear a mask when going to medical facilities, on public transport and in crowded places.

The health sector calls on everyone to join hands to protect public health, prepare well for future disease challenges and build a healthier Vietnam.

With the mission of accompanying for a healthier Vietnam, the Conference summarizing the work of preventing and controlling infectious diseases in 2024 and the Plan for preventing and controlling infectious diseases in 2025 in response to the International Day of Epidemic Prevention and Control in 2024 was jointly organized by Unilever Vietnam International Co., Ltd. and the Lifebuoy brand.

Joining hands to build a healthier Vietnam, the leaders of the Ministry of Health recommend that people need to raise awareness and proactively take personal disease prevention measures, regularly wash their hands with soap and antibacterial hand sanitizer, have adequate nutrition, and practice a healthy lifestyle to prevent and avoid infectious diseases.