Vietnam's Elderly Population on the Rise

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Vietnam:

Vietnam's Elderly Population on the Rise

VNA

February 16, 2004

By 2014, Viet Nam's elderly will probably account for over 10 percent of the population, reported the ''Actions for the Elderly'' conference held in Ha Noi on Feb. 12.

The conference, organized by the Institute of Gerontology, was attended by nearly 100 representatives from the Ministry of Public Health, the National Assembly's Committee for Social Affairs, the World Health Organization and other social organizations.

Although young people make up the majority of Viet Nam's population, the number of elderly people is rising. It is estimated that the number of elderly people in Viet Nam will rise from 6.19 million in 1999 to 16.49 million in 2029.

The institute's recent survey on 1,305 elderly people in three different areas shows that 40.8 percent of those surveyed are widowed; 8.4 percent are working; 29.4 percent are receiving financial aid; 83.9 percent are able to help themselves; and 75.8 percent need better health care.

The conference suggested that better health care and a nutritional diet be given to the elderly and a specific health care system be established for them.