Campaign launched to advocate better care for digestive health

Multinational healthcare company Abbott and the China Health and Medical Development Foundation jointly launched the 10th Green Ribbon Action on Tuesday to advocate better care for digestive system health.

The campaign was also aimed at promoting scientific education that would help healthcare professionals select appropriate treatment protocols or medicine to address gut-related issues.

This year's Green Ribbon Action expanded its focus for the first time to cover the entire digestive system instead of the intestinal tract alone.

"Over the last decade, through the 'Green Ribbon Action', we've reached 20 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions in the country, and trained more than 5,000 physicians," said Qian Jiaming, chief physician of the department of digestive diseases of Peking Union Medical College Hospital.

"The campaign also helps tens of thousands of people to learn about digestive tract health each year."

Experts noted that the morbidity of digestive diseases is rising in China. It is estimated that 4 to 10 percent of adults suffer from recurrent constipation, and up to 22 percent among those aged 60 or above suffer from chronic constipation, which can lead to the onset of major diseases such as rectal cancer, hepatic encephalopathy, breast disease, and Alzheimer's disease.

"As the gut has a wide influence on our overall health, and as people in urban areas live more sedentary lifestyles, we aim to help more people get and stay healthy by sharing trusted information on the digestive health," said Noman Tang, divisional vice-president and general manager of Established Pharmaceuticals, Abbott China.