A meeting under the theme “Health for the Elderly” was held in Hanoi onApril 6, to raise awareness amongst the public on how to stay healthywhen still young and how the elderly can lead a healthy life.

When speaking at the event, held in response to World Health Day onApril 6, the Head of the Ministry of Health’s Legal Affairs DepartmentTran Duc Long, said that the rate of Vietnam’s elderly population isrising rapidly, which is a challenge for the country’s socio-economicdevelopment as well as the medical sector.

According to the WorldHealth Organisation, around 142 million people, or eight percent ofSoutheast Asian’s population are aged over 60. This rate will increaseto 12 percent by 2025 and to more than 20 percent by 2050.

Meanwhile,9.4 percent of Vietnam’s population, or around 8.15 million people areelderly. The General Statistics Office forecasts that the number ofpeople over 60 will make up 10 percent of the country’s population by2017. The medical sector says that 95 percent of the elderly also sufferfrom chronic diseases.

The WHO advises young people of workingage to have a healthy diet, take regular exercise and live life with aslittle stress as possible to keep fit. Elderly people need a pro-activeenvironment for them to be able to integrate into their localcommunity’s activities.

At the meeting, 100 elderly people fromBa Dinh district and Hanoi were given free medical examinations andmedicines. Later, a programme entitled ‘Living a Pain Free Life’ will beheld in nine of the country’s northern provinces to provide healthchecks for rural people.-VNA