Viral footage shows Vietnamese health minister exercising with officials during meeting break
Wednesday, February 20, 2019, 14:18 GMT+7
Vietnam's health minister has suddenly become a sensation as a video capturing her exercising with officials during a meeting break in Hanoi on Monday has gone viral on social media.
The short film showed Minister Nguyen Thi Kim Tien performing hand movements, copied by other attendees of the meeting.
The activity was part of a type of exercise adopted from Japan, which may take over three minutes, according to Tran Dac Phu, head of the General Department of Preventive Medicine.
Tien tasked the preventive medicine department with selecting the most suitable physical movements for the ministry workout.
She said the health ministry has required its public servants and officials to have exercise breaks since late last year.
Vietnamese health minister Nguyen Thi Kim Tien (in pink) and other officials are seen exercising during a break in an office in Hanoi, Vietnam, February 18, 2019. Video: Thuy Anh / Tuoi Tre
It is the first government agency in Vietnam to have introduced such a health break amongst staff since that time.
“I really like the exercise,” she said.
The activity helps change postures, reduce tiredness, improve work performance and prevent diseases associated with sedentary lifestyles, she said, adding that she herself has tried to find time to exercise, especially by walking.
The health ministry is planning to launch an exercise break campaign within the agency on February 27 as the first step to spread it to many other government departments.
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