VietNamNet Bridge - There are 10 ministries in charge of environment management, but the environment remains seriously polluted, damaging people’s health.

Along with  economic, industrial, agricultural development and population growth, Vietnamese are facing health problems caused by environmental damage.

The lack of clean water for daily use is the biggest problem for people in both urban and rural areas. 

According to Dr. Nguyen Huy Nga from the Ministry of Health (MOH), only 85 percent of households in rural areas can approach clean water. Of that amount, only 40 percent have water satisfying MOH standards. 

Only 65 percent of households in rural areas have sanitary latrines which meet MOH standards.

Vietnam is facing serious water and land pollution due to uncontrolled industrial and agricultural production. 

The air pollution due to rapid industry and transport development is getting more serious. Seventy-four cement plants with the capacity of 80 million tons per annum discharge huge volumes of smoke, dust and toxic chemicals.

An MOH report shows the rapid increase in respiratory and allergic diseases in urban areas and diseases in craft villages due to a lack of waste treatment systems there.

The report showed that non-communicable diseases account for 71 percent of total diseases, while pollution is one of the major causes of non-communicable diseases.

Of the 520,000 deaths reported in 2012, there were 379,600 cases, or 73 percent, caused by non-communicable diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

About 2 million Vietnamese have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and bronchial asthma, while 125,000 new cancer cases are reported every year.

Who takes care of environmental health?

According to Nga, until 2014, MOH had been considered the agency in charge of environmental health matters. However, the ministry had not been assigned tasks officially.

The Prime Minister released a decision in 2014 requesting MOH to build up a database on environmental health, warn about high risks to people’s health, and take action to minimize the possible influences on people’s health. 

However, the works assigned to MOH were aimed to help the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) implement international cooperation projects in the field of environmental health.

Dr. Le Thi Thanh Huong from the University of Public Healthcare also noted that there were not enough decrees and circulars clarifying the policies on environmental health.

Huong also noted that there were too many ministries in charge of environmental management. Too many cooks spoil the broth.

Infonet