Embassy Hanoi’s Second Annual Health Fair Promotes Healthy Lifestyles and Blood Donations

Theo nguồn tin trên trang mạng của U.S. Embassy in Hanoi

HANOI, August 30, 2013 – U.S. Embassy Hanoi’s second annual Health Fair drew a large crowd of Embassy staff and family members, Vietnamese nursing and medical students, health practitioners, and youth interested in learning more about healthy lifestyles and donating blood. U.S. Embassy Hanoi Chargé d’Affaires Claire Pierangelo opened the event with remarks on the importance of a healthy lifestyle and encouraged everyone in attendance to donate blood. She noted that the lifestyle changes people make today can prevent health problems later in life and lead to healthier populations, stronger health systems, and better lives for Americans and Vietnamese.

“This year’s U.S. Embassy Health Fair theme is ‘Think Healthy and Save a Life Today.’ We have assembled local healthcare specialists, dentists and doctors, local NGOs, as well as our own Embassy experts from the Centers for Disease Control, the U.S. Agency for International Development and PEPFAR,” said Chargé d’Affaires Claire Pierangelo. “Our goal is to provide information and increase awareness about healthy lifestyles to our employees, their families and other guests. Just as important, we are happy to assist the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion in promoting our annual blood drive during the Health Fair to increase the number of blood donations and save even more lives.”

Organized by U.S. Embassy Hanoi’s Health Unit, the event provides visitors the opportunity to familiarize themselves with healthcare options available in Hanoi and the region and receive information about the benefits of healthy lifestyles. The 20 local and international participating organizations provided free blood pressure and diabetes screenings, vision checks, dental advice, and calculation of body mass index (BMI). While touring the Health Fair booths, Chargé Pierangelo took advantage of these services and had her blood pressure checked. After visiting the booth of local NGO TRAFFIC, the Chargé urged everyone to avoid buying or consuming wildlife products derived from endangered or threatened species, or that involved cruelty to animals.

The Embassy’s 2013 Health Fair marked the third blood drive conducted in cooperation with the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion (NIHBT). The “Tet Gift” Blood Drive on January 11, 2013 and the Embassy’s Inaugural Blood Drive on September 27, 2012 resulted in over 100 Embassy staff and American Center patrons donating blood.

View a photo gallery from the event here.

http://vietnam.usembassy.gov/pr083013.html