Hepatitis continues to kill thousands annually

DA NANG — About 20 million Vietnamese people are infected with hepatitis B and C – and thousands die from the disease each year.

In central Da Nang City yesterday, the chairman of the Viet Nam Association for the Study Of Liver Diseases, Dinh Quy Lan, said the liver disease killed thousands of people each year.

"This is why we have launched a massive fight against it. It is so easy to become infected by the virus if we aren't careful," Lan said.

Vice president Nguyen Thi Doan said the campaign organised by the association showed agencies' determination to fight diseases.

She said the health ministry should promote safe blood transfusions and take more care in preventing the disease spreading from mothers to babies during birth.

Chairman of the Association for Liver Disease Study in the Central Region and Central Highlands Le Loc said the association planned to set up disease control centres throughout the region.

"The centres will provide immediate treatment. We will encourage people to have regular blood tests," Loc said.

He added that giving vaccinations to babies was a good way to enhance the fight against the viral hepatitis. — VNS