VietNamNet Bridge – Viet Nam will continue to prioritise the prevention of non-infectious diseases during 2011-15.

Viet Nam would invest more in the early diagnosis and treatment of non-infectious diseases, build a non-infectious disease prevention network from central to grassroots level and boost health communication and education, scientific studies, and international cooperation in this field, Trieu said.

He expressed his hope in receiving additional support from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the international community for Viet Nam's continued efforts in fighting non-infectious disease.

At the meeting, WHO General Director Margaret Chan called upon the WHO to concentrate its efforts on meeting health demands in Africa and other disadvantaged regions in the world.

She had said earlier that the UN had decided to spend US$40 billion on a global strategy for maternity and child health.

At the meeting, Bill Gates, co-Chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, called upon governments to invest more in vaccine studies and production as well as in the reduction of vaccine prices.

By using vaccines effectively, the lives of 4 million people could be saved from now until 2015, he said.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News