‘Careme - Love Yourself’ for a healthier Vietnam

On the morning of November 2, Alternate Member of the Party Central Committee and Permanent Deputy Minister of Health Vu Manh Ha attended the program “Careme - Love Yourself,” which aims to promote early detection and early management of cardiovascular, renal, and metabolic diseases, contributing to building a healthier Vietnam. The event took place at the Phu Rieng Commune Cultural Center, Dong Nai province, and was jointly organized by the Ministry of Health, the Vietnam Young Physicians’ Association, and the Dong Nai Department of Health.

Alternate Member of the Party Central Committee and Permanent Deputy Minister of Vu Manh Ha and Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairwoman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Dong Nai province Huynh Thi Hang attend the program. Photo: Vu Nguyen

Delegates attend the program. Photo: Vu Nguyen

Also attending were PhD - Dr. Ha Anh Duc, Director General of the Department of Medical Service Administration and President of the Vietnam Young Physicians Association; Specialist Level II Doctor Do Thi Nguyen, Director of Department of Health of Dong Nai province; along with leaders of departments and sectors, representatives from hospitals and enterprises, and more than 150 doctors, medical students, and volunteers directly providing free medical examinations, consultations, and medicines to local residents.

The Careme program - an acronym for three disease groups: Cardio (cardiovascular), Renal (renal), and Metabolic (metabolic) - is a strategic collaborative initiative between the Vietnam Young Physicians Association and AstraZeneca Vietnam Co., Ltd., under the auspices of the Ministry of Health, and has been implemented since 2022. Over the past three years, the program has screened more than 200,000 people, detected nearly 10,000 early-stage chronic kidney disease cases, while deploying Careme Kiosks and integrating digital technology into electronic medical records in many localities. In 2025, the program is expanded to include screening for cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia, combining on-site rapid testing, ultrasound, and electrocardiograms.

Alternate Member of the Party Central Committee and Permanent Deputy Minister of Health Vu Manh Ha speaks at the program. Photo: Vu Nguyen

In his opening remarks, Permanent Deputy Minister of Health Vu Manh Ha emphasized: “Non-communicable diseases, especially cardiovascular, renal, and diabetes, are global health challenges. Vietnam needs to strengthen proactive screening and prevention models right at the community level. The program Careme - Love Yourself is a concrete example of a public-private partnership model in healthcare, combining professional expertise with compassion and connecting young physicians with the community.”

Dr. Ha Anh Duc, PhD, Director of the Department of Medical Service Administration under the Ministry of Health and President of the Vietnam Young Physicians’ Association, speaks at the program. Photo: Vu Nguyen

Dr. Ha Anh Duc shared: “This program is not only a health campaign but also a journey of love, helping people learn to cherish and care for themselves through practical actions: regular health check-ups, adherence to treatment, and early prevention. The Vietnam Young Physicians’ Association is committed to continuing to accompany the Ministry of Health, businesses, and localities to spread the spirit of preventive healthcare and smart healthcare to every citizen.”

Director of the Dong Nai Department of Health Do Thi Nguyen speaks at the program. Photo: Vu Nguyen

At Phu Rieng commune, the program provided free health check-ups, consultations, and medicines to more than 1,000 residents, focusing on policy families, the elderly, low-income households, and disadvantaged children. Participants received general medical examinations, cardiac and abdominal ultrasounds, electrocardiograms, blood tests, and nutrition consultations. Alongside these medical activities, the program donated 100 wheelchairs to 11 regional medical centers, awarded 25 “Supporting Students to School” scholarships to disadvantaged medical students, and funded 10 free congenital heart surgeries.

Alternate Member of the Party Central Committee and Permanent Deputy Minister of Health Vu Manh Ha presents 10 support packages for congenital heart surgeries in Dong Nai province. Photo: Vu Nguyen

Medical students from disadvantaged backgrounds receive “Supporting Students to School” scholarships. Photo: Vu Nguyen

The program presents health gifts and essential items to 20 policy families and local children. Photo: Vu Nguyen

Alternate Member of the Party Central Committee and Permanent Deputy Minister of Health Vu Manh Ha measures a resident’s blood pressure at the medical examination session. Photo: Vu Nguyen

Volunteers assist elderly patients to medical examination areas. Photo: Vu Nguyen

Alternate Member of the Party Central Committee and Permanent Deputy Minister of Health Vu Manh Ha, together with the leadership delegation of the Vietnam Young Physicians’ Association and Dong Nai province, visit and talk with patients. Photo: Vu Nguyen

Alternate Member of the Party Central Committee and Permanent Deputy Minister of Health Vu Manh Ha and Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairwoman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Dong Nai province Huynh Thi Hang visit local residents receiving medical examinations at the event. Photo: Vu Nguyen

The program also presented health gifts and essential supplies to 20 policy families and children in the area. At the same time, the working delegation visited two families with meritorious service to the revolution, offered incense at the Hung Kings Temple, and held an exchange session with local youth, spreading the spirit of “young physicians for the community”.

Deputy Minister of Health Vu Manh Ha affirmed that the Ministry of Health will continue to support and expand models like Careme within the national strategy for non-communicable disease prevention and control for the 2026-2035 period. The Vietnam Young Physicians’ Association is collaborating with the Ministry of Health and partners to further implement Careme in various localities during the 2025-2026 period, aiming for the goal that “every citizen receives regular screening, early detection, and early care.”

The working delegation led by Alternate Member of the Party Central Committee and Permanent Deputy Minister of Health Vu Manh Ha visits a family with meritorious service to the revolution in Phu Rieng commune. Photo: Vu Nguyen

The working delegation offers incense at the Hung Kings Temple, Phu Rieng commune, Dong Nai province. Photo: Vu Nguyen

The program “Careme - Love Yourself” not only helps reduce disease burdens and treatment costs but also creates a positive shift in public awareness about healthcare. With the message “Love Yourself - For a Healthier Vietnam,” the program continues to affirm the pioneering role of the Vietnam Young Physicians’ Association in connecting social resources, applying digital technology, promoting preventive healthcare, and spreading the compassion of young physicians in the new era.

By Thu Ha – Translated by Minh Hanh, Thu Ha