Older population in need of financial assistance

Almost half of the population aged 60 and above in Viet Nam is not eligible for social subsidies or participate in the country's social insurance programme.

This was among the main concerns raised by participants during a May 19 conference in Ha Noi entitled, "Financial Security of Older Women" and co-organised by the Vietnam National Committee for the Elderly, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Singapore-based Tsao Foundation.

Government statistics last year indicated there were more than 9.5 million elderly aged 60 and above. Of these, only 1.4 million received financial assistance for their contribution to the country's revolutionary wars.

Another 1.4 million were entitled to the Government financial assistance programme for the elderly aged 80 and above, which begins by providing VND180,000 a month (US$8.5). Another two million were eligible to receive pensions, while support was given to 95,000, being provided through various social programmes.

However, some 4.6 million elderly Vietnamese are not receiving any form of financial support from the country's social programmes.

UNFPA's Nguyen Ngoc Quynh, PhD., said many Vietnamese aged 60 and above, of which up to 35 per cent were women, are still working an average 32-35 hours per week, though most were unable to make an adequate living.

Tran Bich Thuy, Director of HelpAge International Vietnam, a global organisation whose mission is to support the elderly to challenge discrimination and overcome poverty, said women in Vietnam make up a larger part of the unofficial labour market, though their incomes were reported to be lower, compared to men. This has resulted in more older women (up to 81 per cent) who were without pensions.

Several programmes designed to assist elderly Vietnamese with financial support have been undertaken and multiplied in recent years to provide a means for the elderly to support themselves.

However, experts at the conference pointed out there is still discrimination and limitations within the current programmes, making them inaccessible to a large number of Vietnam's older population.

These experts have called for a complete survey of the country's older population's ability to support themselves financially and the establishment of various programmes to assist them.

Man arrested for smuggling 120,000 packs of cigarettes

The city's inter-agency task force confiscated 120,000 cigarette packs valued at nearly half a billion dong (US$24,000), as they were being transported by truck to Ha Noi yesterday.

Officials said Nguyen Van Kiem, driver of the truck, failed to show proper documents verifying the origin of the cigarettes.

He later confessed that he was hired by a trader in northern Bac Ninh Province to transport the cigarettes to Ha Noi.

Captain of the city's Market Watch No 13, Nguyen Ngoc Ha, said Nguyen Van Kiem will be prosecuted for being in possession, transporting or trading smuggled cigarettes and will face criminal charges as stipulated in the country's laws.

North-South drug ring closed down

Ha Noi police yesterday announced that members of a nationwide drug smuggling ring were arrested with more than 6.4 kilograms of drugs being confiscated.

Nguyen Huy Thong, 33, living in Hai Ba Trung District, and Hoang Bich Ngoc, were arrested on April 28 when they were leaving for the airport to travel to HCM City, said officials.

Police found 2.800 synthetic drug pills, a pack of methamphetamine weighing 2.3 grams, and cash totalling VND53 million (US$2.400) in their luggage.

Another 2.5 kilograms of methamphetamine, 2.035 pills and a 6.6-gram bag of ketamine were seized, following Thong's apartment being searched.

Police also searched Ngoc's house in HCM City's District 4, finding more than 11 grams of drugs.

The investigation is continuing, said officials.

580kg of animal organs found in passenger bus

Officials of Northern Ninh Binh Province's market watch discovered 580kg of animal organs hidden in a passenger bus.

The animal organs were reported to have begun to smell. When questioned, bus driver Tran Quy Truong, a resident of Thanh Liem District in Ha Nam Province, was unable to provide proper documents to verify the origin of his cargo.

Under questioning, he admitted that he was hired to transport the animal organs from Da Nang to Thai Nguyen Bus Station.

The case is under further investigation.

2 women charged for selling 21 others to Chinese

Prosecutors in the southern province of An Giang have charged two local women for trafficking 21 women to China.

According to the indictment released by the prosecutors, Nguyen Thi Huong, 50, and Nguyen Thi Hong Phuong, 40, trafficked the women, all belonging to the southern provinces of Hau Giang, Kien Giang, and An Giang between November 2012 and December 2013.

In July 2012 Huong had sold Phuong for VND35 million (US$1,750) to another woman in An Giang, who took her to China and sold her for VND160 million (US$8,000).

After two months in China, Phuong returned to Vietnam, looking for other women to traffic to China.

She met Huong and asked her to look for gullible victims, offering her VND50 – 55 million (US$2,500-2,750) for each woman aged between 18 and 29 and VND40 million for those above 30.

Ten other intermediaries reportedly helped the traffickers get in touch with the 21 women, who were soon sent to China, authorities said, adding that some of the mediators were close relatives of the victims.

Early last year some of the victims managed to flee from China and complained to authorities in Vietnam.

Some of the victims were sold again in China while one of them was sold to a man who could not hear or speak.

Phuong was arrested in February at the province’s Long Binh border gate while fleeing to Cambodia.

Huong gave herself up at a police station soon afterwards.

The police said they are hunting for another accomplice of the couple and Huong’s younger sister, Nguyen Thi Thom.

Government supports 36 drought-hit localities

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has agreed to source 492.5 billion VND (23.1 million USD) from the central standby budget in 2015 for 36 localities nationwide to deal with drought and salt intrusion consequences in the 2014-2015 spring-winter crop.

The Ministry of Finance is responsible for confirming the allocation of money for each locality, which will range between 3.7 billion VND (174,000 USD) and 18.3 billion VND (847 million USD).

The Government leader asked the provincial People’s Committees to proactively use the local budgets and other legal capital sources along with the central support budget to cope with the consequences effectively.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in conjunction with the Ministry of Finance ought to increase inspection of utilising the central budget for right purposes and regulations.

According to the National Hydro-Meteorology Service, Vietnam is forecast to experience severe weather conditions in 2015, especially heat waves and droughts.

At a recent conference reviewing disaster prevention initiatives in 2014 and plans for 2015 held in Da Nang city, the agency said that Vietnam is likely to face more severe heat waves, droughts and storms, while rain and flooding will be less severe but more abnormal.

Drought, water scarcity and saltwater intrusion will increase in central and south central provinces and could last until September, it said.

In the early months of 2015, severe droughts occurred in many provinces, mostly in the southern central provinces.

Electronic portal on Ho Chi Minh launched

An electronic portal on the late President Ho Chi Minh was launched at a ceremony in Hanoi on May 19 as part of activities to celebrate the 125th birth anniversary of the President.

Found at http://hochiminh.vn, the e-portal enables people from all walks of life to access information about the President’s biography and revolutionary cause, thus raising public awareness of his ideology and morality while promoting the studying and following of President Ho Chi Minh’s moral example .

It also aims to promote President Ho Chi Minh’s ideology, morality and personality internationally.

Spanning 12 columns, the portal covers data and information on the President’s life and political career, his works, biographical writings, photos and multimedia news.

The site is available in both Vietnamese and English. A mobile-friendly version of the webpage was also introduced.

The e-portal is also connected to the websites of a number of organisations and individuals for further information and documentation about the President.

The late President Ho Chi Minh is a great leader of Vietnam, a national liberation hero and a world cultural figure.

A wide range of activities are taking place both across the country and abroad to mark the 125 th birth anniversary of the President who is considered a symbol of solidarity, friendship and close attachment between Vietnam and countries around the world.

Jetstar Pacific launches HCM City-Chu Lai air route

The first Jetstar Pacific flight from Ho Chi Minh City to central Quang Nam province landed at Chu Lai Airport on May 19, carrying 180 passengers.

Jetstar Pacific will operate three two-way flights from Ho Chi Minh City to Chu Lai Airport on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday every week, using Airbus A320s designed with 180 Economy seats. Each flight is scheduled to take about one hour and 15 minutes.

One way air fares vary, starting from 550,000 VND (25.2 USD) with the exception of discounted tickets.

The launching of the Ho Chi Minh – Chu Lai route will boost the socio-economic development of the South Central Coast region, according to Chairman of the Quang Nam provincial People’s Committee Dinh Van Thu.

Free buses from Tam Ky City to Chu Lai Airport have been set up to better serve passengers.

Vietnam attends IMDEX Asia 2015

A Vietnamese delegation led by Deputy Commander of Vietnam Marine Police Nguyen Van Son are attending the International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference (IMDEX Asia) which is currently underway in Singapore.

Asia Pacific’s premier international maritime defence show saw the attendance of nearly 70 high-level delegations from 40 countries and the participation of 180 companies.

The event aims to introduce the latest technologies and trends in maritime defence and underwater technology.

IMDEX 2015 will also hold several activities including the International Maritime Security Conference (IMSC), International Naval Engineering Conference (INCEC) and Asia Pacific Submarine Conference (APSC).

Additionally, 20 warships from 12 countries are on display, including the USS Fort Worth and China ’s CNS Yulin.

IMDEX 2015 runs from May 19-21.

Reforestation needs to be fulfilled in 2015

Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai has asked provincial People Committees nationwide to accomplish reforestation projects in forest lands which were converted for hydroelectric plant construction and other purposes in 2015.

The Deputy Prime Minister urged the authorities to disburse their forest protection and development fund contributed by investors for reforestation.

He also requested relevant ministries and provincial authorities to strictly implement the national programme on strengthening the management of planning, investment and operation of hydropower works.

According to reports, by December 2014, 28 among 55 provinces and cities had planted forests across nearly 7,200 hectares to compensate for forest areas converted to other purposes.

Work begins on national heroic monument in Central Highlands

Construction of a monument for the national hero N’Trang Long kicked off in the Central Highlands province of Dak Nong on May 19.

During the resistance war against the French occupiers from 1912-1936, N’ Trang Long gathered ethnic minority groups in the Central Highlands to struggle for independence in the region.

Constructed on an area of nearly 6 hectares on Dak Nur hill, the monument includes a statue of the hero with engravings of ethnic minority people who joined in his uprising at its base.

The monument will be 18.5 metres in height and 25 metres in width. The first phase of construction, creating the foundation and lighting protection system, will be built at a total cost of over 67 billion VND (3.1 million USD), sourced mainly from the financial support of the residents in the region.

Evidence of national sea sovereignty shown in Quang Nam

Maps and documents which are historical and legal evidence proving Vietnam’s sovereignty over archipelagos in the East Sea are being showcased in Thang Binh district of central Quang Nam province.

The exhibits include replicas of old Vietnamese documents on the country’s establishment and enforcement of its sovereignty over Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos, along with royal documents from Vietnam’s Nguyen Dynasty and western maps showing the country’s possession of the two archipelagos.

Also on show are maps of China without the islands issued by western countries and China itself, documents on the archipelagos before and after 1975, and related researches by Vietnamese and foreign experts.

One notable item is a map of Quang Nam drawn in 1810 showing Hoang Sa islands, named Cat Vang in Vietnam ’s ancient Nom script, off the coast of the province.

The display also features decisions by Kings Minh Mang, Thieu Tri, and Tu Duc of the Nguyen Dynasty to assign Vo Van Tay, a Quang Nam native, as the head of a naval soldier team patrolling Hoang Sa.

Director of the Quang Nam Department of Information and Communications Pham Hong Quang said the items, collected in Vietnam and other countries help testify to Vietnam ’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa and raise public awareness of the national sovereignty protection.

The exhibition, opened on May 19, at the Centre for Culture and Sports of Thang Binh district will last until May 22.-

Waterway could cut road traffic between HCM City-Ca Mau

The HCM City - Ca Mau waterway will be upgraded to accommodate 2,000-tonne container barges under a project to improve transport from HCM City to Ca Mau via Can Tho, which has been submitted to the Ministry of Transport for approval.

The Traffic Development and Strategy Institute said the upgrading would help reduce the load of road traffic from HCM City to the southernmost province of Ca Mau.

Total cargo is expected to reach 93.5 million tonnes by 2020, a year-on-year rise of 7.7 percent in the 2016-20 period.

Of that amount, transport by road accounts for 25.3 million tonnes (27.1 percent); inland waterway, 62.3 million tonnes (66.83 percent); and river and sea 5.67 million tonnes (6.07 percent).

The institute said the country should issue incentives and favourable policies on land, taxes and interest rates for enterprises, including ship owners, shippers, and sea transport-service providers, to build or upgrade container ports and other facilities at ports.

According to the institute, the country also needs to call for the private sector to invest in building or upgrading ports and seaports as well as storage facilities in Tien Giang, Can Tho, An Giang, Kien Giang, Ca Mau and HCM City.

Urgent work includes the upgrade of the waterway from HCM City to Ca Mau for container barges of more than 2,000 tonnes, an upgrade of Xa No Canal and coastal routes running through Dai Ngai – Bac Lieu – Gia Rai.

Large-scale river ports also need upgrading in order to upload containers at storage centres to collect and ship cargo. Ports include Binh Long Port (An Giang), An Phuoc Port (Vinh Long), Long Binh Port (HCM City). A new cargo port should be built inland in Cai Lay in Tien Giang Province, the institute recommended.

Shipping facilities for carrying containers are also needed. Improvement of facilities to upload containers on inland waterway should also be carried out, the institute said.

The second phase of the project would upgrade the Cho Gao canal, and dredge and widen the flow of canal to 80 metres for container barges of more than 2,000.

The institute said the country should soon put into operation transport routes such as Binh Thuan – Kien Giang and link with ports in HCM City, Tien Giang, Can Tho and Ca Mau. Vessels of 1,000 DWT could be received and then later vessels of 2,000 and 4,000 DWT.

The institute also urged the completion of the project Quan Chanh Bo that would receive vessels of 10,000 DWT and 20,000 DWT.

As for roads, the country would need to improve the capacity of road traffic to transport and collect cargo, and transport goods to inland river ports in Can Tho, An Giang, Ca Mau, An Giang, Ca Mau and Kien Giang.

Cuban hero Jose Marti commemorated in Hanoi

A floral tribute was paid to Cuban national hero Jose Marti at his statute in Hanoi’s Tao Dan Park on his 120th death anniversary, which fell on May 19.

The event was jointly held by the Vietnam-Cuba Friendship Association, Hanoi chapter Union of Friendship Organisations and the Cuban Embassy in Vietnam.

Speaking at the event, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam-Cuba Friendship Association Pham Tien Tu highlighted great contributions made by the Cuban hero to Cuba’s struggle for national independence at the end of the 19th century.

Jose Marti was also credited with laying the foundation for the solidarity between two countries. He wrote the piece “A journey through the land of the Annamese” published in the US magazine Golden Years in 1889, hailing the Vietnamese people’s tradition of patriotism and fighting against invaders.

Meanwhile, Cuban Ambassador to Vietnam Herminio Lopez Diaz gave an overview of the Cuban hero’s life. He underlined the shared ideas on the national struggle for independence between President Ho Chi Minh and the Cuban hero while expressing his hope that young generations of the two nations will nurture the special relations.

Jose Marti, born on January 28, 1853 in Havana, was a prominent thinker, cultural figure and a staunch revolutionary in Latin America in the late 19th century. He led the Cuban struggle for independence in late 19th century and died on the battlefield on May 19, 1895.

Road expansion project kicks off in Mekong Delta

A road project to upgrade and widen some 50 kilometres of National Road 53, which links the two Mekong Delta provinces of Vinh Long and Tra Vinh, was begun on May 18.

The upgraded road begins at Km 11+295 in Vinh Long's Long Ho district and will continue to Km56+00 in Cang Long district in Tra Vinh province.

Plans call for widening the road so vehicles can travel at speeds of 60 kilometres per hour in cities and 80 kilometres per hour in rural areas.

The construction work was carried out under the BOT (Build-Develop-Transfer) plan, with investments totalling more than 1.22 trillion VND (56.7 million USD).

The project was expected to be completed in two years, and officials will begin collecting tolls in May 2017.

National Road 53, which stretches more than 172 kilometres, is the key route connecting Vinh Long and Tra Vinh provinces and is a part of the national road network within the Mekong Delta region.

The expanded National Road 53 is expected to help meet transportation demands and ease traffic congestion on the road, contributing to the socio-economic development of Vinh Long and Tra Vinh provinces, as well as the entire Mekong Delta region.

Regulatory conference highlights nuclear safety

More than 400 domestic and foreign experts gathered at the second National Nuclear Regulatory Conference that opened in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong on May 19.

The three-day event is being held by the Vietnam Atomic Energy Society, the Da Lat Nuclear Research Centre and the provincial Department of Science and Technology.

Participants are primarily nuclear experts from the National Nuclear Safety Council, the Ministry of Science and Technology, and international organisations like the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Tran Viet Thanh said the conference is expected to help improve nuclear safety and security infrastructure in Vietnam in response to a few incidents in the field across the country.

Delegates will discuss policies and normative documents on nuclear power plants, managing radioactive waste and used radioactive sources, and technical capacity for nuclear safety assessments.

They will also focus on issues of public interest such as dealing with nuclear accidents and ensuring safety for radioactive sources, as well as State management on radiation safety and security in health, industry, and agriculture.

The conference will also touch on implementing international treaties on nuclear safety and security and the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons.

It also creates an opportunity for Vietnam and international partners to exchange experience and increase cooperation in nuclear regulatory activities.

Technology crucial for agricultural competitiveness

The application of technology in agricultural production is crucial for the sector’s sustainable development and the competitive enhancement of produce price and quality, Truong Quang Hoai Nam, Vice Chairman of the Can Tho People’s Committee, told Dai Doan Ket newspaper.

He highlighted that post-harvest losses remains high, ranging between 20-25 percent, and attributed them to the lack of technological application in preserving and processing agricultural products.

Echoing the Vice Chairman’s opinion, agricultural experts have argued that technologies help enhance domestic businesses in integration.

The paper cited the speech of Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Quan during the recent TECHFEST Vietnam 2015 , in which he said that Vietnam will play its part in the world economy as a member of the Trans-Pacific Partnership and other multi-lateral trade agreements.

He urged domestic firms to update the technology at their disposal to better compete in the free, fair and non-tariff markets in the region and the world.

According to a survey of 100 firms in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City conducted by the ministry, as many as 90 percent of them still use technology and machinery of the 1980s. It also revealed that only three percent of domestic firms’ annual revenue was allocated for technology investment, and only seven percent of their staff have technological skills and expertise.

Vietnam works to improve healthcare network

Efforts made by Vietnam to renovate its health care system were highlighted during a speech delivered by Health Minister Nguyen Thi Kim Tien at the opening ceremony of the 68th session of the World Health Assembly in Geneva taking place from May 18-26.

During her remarks, Tien said Vietnam, a low-middle income country with a population of over 90 million, has achieved good health outcome indicators from the millennium development goals, above a number of countries with similar per capita incomes.

Grassroots healthcare networks have constantly been invested in and developed. All communes have health centres—60 percent of which have medical doctors—and all villages have health workers, she noted, adding that Vietnam is striving to achieve health insurance coverage of 75 percent in late 2015 and 80 percent in 2020.

Recently, Vietnam joined the global health security system pilot and achieved significant progress in public health emergency preparedness and response. Through substantial efforts, Vietnam has successfully controlled emerging diseases and pandemics such as SARS and the avian flu, Tien reported.

She shared that Vietnam has enacted various policies in a bid to foster a more resilient health system, focusing on health finance reform, investment in infrastructure and human resource development.

The Government is subsidising health insurance premiums for the poor, near-poor, ethnic minorities, children under 6 and people living in disadvantaged areas as well as encouraging private investment and public-private partnership (PPP) in infrastructure and hi-tech medical equipment. Administrative procedures in healthcare have been made more transparent to satisfy the general population.

Vietnam has effectively used domestic and official development assistance resources to increase investment in modern hospitals at the tertiary and grassroots levels. As a result, as many as 800 new district and central hospitals and hundreds of commune-level health centres have opened, improving universal access to high-quality health services.

The country has also focused on developing human resources in the sector by improving the quality of medical training for health workers and birth attendances, especially in mountainous areas, and promoting development of traditional medicine.

Meanwhile, Vietnam successfully implemented advanced techniques such as organ transplants, stem cell applications and endoscopy robots. Currently, 12 vaccines for the expanded immunisation program are domestically-produced.

In an interview with the Vietnam News Agency, Minister Nguyen Thi Kim Tien said one of the highlights of the WHO’s assessment for Vietnam's national regulatory system for vaccines was being recognised for meeting international standards.

Vietnam enhances strategy against climate change

Vietnam has been working to fine-tune support programmes to respond to climate change ( SPRCC ) from 2016-2020 in order to effectively respond to climate change.

Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE) Tran Hong Ha made the remark during a meeting to review the results of SPRCC in 2014, update the policy framework for 2015 and outline orientations for 2016-2020.

Ha appreciated the assistance of international partners in assisting Vietnam to implement climate change projects and programmes and confirmed that the SPRCC has yielded positive results, including connecting ministries and sectors.

Pham Van Tan, Vice Head of the Vietnam National Hydrometeorology Department under the MoNRE, said the working team has organised meetings to discuss the direction of the SPRCC policy framework from 2016-2020 and the SPRCC policy framework for 2016.

The SPRCC policy framework for 2016-2020 prioritises reducing greenhouse gas emissions; creating green cities adaptable to climate change; actively responding to disasters and climate observations; water resource management; and protecting and developing sustainable forests.

It also focuses on community responses to the outcomes of climate change; smart agriculture; strengthening dam safety; coordinating and formulating plans in response to climate change in the Mekong Delta region; incorporating and boosting international cooperation; and improving the nation’s role in addressing climate change.

Participants at the meeting agreed that further content discussion is needed as well as more clarification on achievements and uncompleted tasks.

Workshop discusses climate change anticipation

Authorities and scientists gathered at a workshop in Hanoi on May 18 to launch a project on enhancing the accuracy of climate anticipation.

The two day event is co-organised by the Vietnam Institute of Meteorology, Hydrology and Environment under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO).

The project, funded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) aims to provide data for developing a climate change and rising sea level scenario in Vietnam in 2015, Deputy Director of the Institute Huynh Thi Lan Huong said.

It will serve as a reference for evaluating research on climate change, contributing to a more detailed and accurate climate change scenario for Vietnam, she added.

Participants discussed other expected outcomes of the projects including the most updated climate change anticipation using the dynamic meteorology method, and approaches to develop a climate change scenario in Vietnam.

A climate change scenario was developed and updated in 2009 and 2012, respectively, laying a foundation for relevant bodies to evaluate the possible impacts of climate change and use the findings to develop and implement effective action plans, according to Huong.-

President Ho’s birthday celebrated in Europe, Asia

The 125th birthday of late President Ho Chi Minh (May 19), the founder of contemporary Vietnam, was celebrated with separate events in European and Asian countries.

In France, the Vietnamese Embassy, representative agencies and expatriates offered incense at Ho Chi Minh’s altar at the embassy headquarters where the leader stayed from 1921 to 1923.

Officials of Montreuil city in the suburb of Paris joined them to lay a wreath at his statue at the Montreau Park.

Montreuil Mayor Patrice Bessac said President Ho not only founded modern Vietnam but also helped shape the world, adding that he and other officials, including the late General Vo Nguyen Giap, led Vietnam to decisive victories in the struggle for national independence and freedom welcomed by all nations fighting colonial oppression in the world.

The Vietnamese Embassy in Russia and expatriates also laid a wreath at the Ho Chi Minh monument at a square named after him in Moscow.

On this occasion, the Russia-Vietnam Friendship Association announced four Russian winners of a knowledge competition on the late leader.

Meanwhile, a ceremony marking President Ho’s birthday was held at the Saint Petersburg State University in Saint Petersburg.

A leader of the university said the celebration is an annual activity to honour an excellent man and acknowledge his great efforts in building and nurturing the friendship between Vietnam and Russia, formerly known as the Soviet Union.

Also on May 19, a similar activity took place at the commemorative site of Ho Chi Minh in Xiengvang village of the Lao province of Khammouane, attended by representatives from Vietnam, Laos and Thailand.

The President conducted revolutionary activities in Laos’s Savannakhet Township and Xiengvang village between 1928 and 1929. Due to his contributions to the local revolutionary movement, the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party built a commemorative site in the village featuring photos and documents on his stay there and Laos’s fight for national liberation.

A commemorative function for the late President was also held in Egypt the same day.

Diplomats join programme introducing Vietnam

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) held an annual programme introducing Vietnam on May 19, attended by nearly 60 diplomats, ambassadors and chief representatives from international organisations in Vietnam.

The programme is the MoFA’s initiative which aims to effectively implement resolutions on international integration and the national protection strategy and help international partners better understand Vietnam.

Every year about 200 new diplomats assume their duties in Hanoi and wish to study the country’s history, culture, economy, social affairs, politics, state apparatus structure and foreign policy.

Speed up feed inspections: minister

The time and cost involved in inspecting imported animal feed should be reduced by half, said Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Cao Duc Phat.

He made the statement at a meeting held on Friday to discuss difficulties northern businesses in the animal husbandry sector face, which could become a bigger problem as Viet Nam's free trade agreements with other countries are soon to come into effect.

Plant quarantine and animal feed quality inspections greatly affect domestic businesses that import animal feed. Storage fees at ports during quarantine are one of the biggest issues, Director General of Quang Minh Corporation Tran Thanh Quang said at the meeting.

Raw materials imported for animal feed production must undergo plant quarantine procedures and quality inspection.

"This is a time-consuming procedure that may take up to 10 days," he said.

Doan Trong Ly, director general of Aprocimex, an animal feed processing joint stock company, attributed the high price of raw material for animal feed in Viet Nam to quality inspections and storage fees.

Ly suggested authorities inspect only ten per cent of incoming orders instead of the current rule, which mandates every order be inspected. The current rule, in his opinion, causes unnecessary costs for businesses.

Other participants at the meeting also called for a change.

"Why must importers wait for weeks, or spend billions of dong on storage fees, if they haven't made any violations for a long time, like 10 years? " said Pham Van Tiep, director of ABC joint stock company.

According to Bui Si Danh, a deputy at the Plant Protection Department, testing every incoming container is a standard practice of international customs.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development ordered the Animal Husbandry and Plant Protection Departments to hold talks with businesses later this month to find ways to minimise the time and monetary costs. The proposals should be submitted to the minister before May 30, he said.

The minister requested that the Plant Protection Department study the frequency of inspections around the world, especially exporting countries that demand inspections be done before they provide quality certificates for their product.

He also asked the department to add more human resources and equipment to speed up the inspection process and thereby avoid stockpiling imports at the Hai Phong Port.

Training helps staff shortages

Co-operation programmes among localities in the Mekong Delta region and universities in and outside the region have helped reduce staff shortages, according to the Steering Committee for the Southwestern Region's cultural and social division.

The region's 12 provinces and only central-level city, Can Tho, have identified high school graduates with good learning records and sent them to university for training, according to Vo Trong Huu, the committee's head.

The healthcare field in the region, for example, faces a large shortage of doctors and nurses.

To reduce shortages, the region has worked with Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy and HCM City University of Medicine and Pharmacy to provide training.

Selected students must make a commitment to return to their locality for work after graduation.

"With these programmes, students feel secure about getting a job after graduating. And the locality has trained human resources," Huu said.

In the upcoming academic year, 324 students will be selected for university study in tuberculosis, mental health, surgery and forensic medicine.

Pham Van Linh, rector of Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy, said the university had trained 3,031 doctors, 1,193 pharmacists and 797 bachelor's degree graduates since 2008.

Linh spoke at a conference held last Saturday to review three years of training in the Southwestern region.

However, the number of trainees each year had met only 50 per cent of demand, he added.

Linh said that the Ministry of Education and Training should allocate training quotas in advance to localities and universities so they can take the initiative to identify promising students.

Minister of Education and Training Pham Vu Luan has said that under the new tertiary education law, universities would be given autonomy to make enrollment decisions.

But they have to ensure fairness in enrollment, and ensure the quality of graduates.

The minister said he would report and petition the Prime Minister to continue the co-operation programmes after 2016.

Luan said that nurses and other health staff should receive more training.

Hand washing can prevent diseases

Washing hands regularly can help prevent virus-based diseases, which have become more prevalent worldwide, a seminar heard.

"Prevention of virus-based diseases is a topic concerning the health industry, whole society, community, family and individual," said Associate Professor and Dr Tran Dac Phu, head of the Ministry of Health's Preventive Medicine Department.

Phu spoke during a seminar held in HCM City yesterday on preventive measures to adapt to new changes in viruses worldwide.

"According to a World Health Organisation report in 2013, virus-based diarrhea killed 2.2 million people worldwide, accounting for 4 per cent of total fatalities," Claire McDonald from the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) said at the seminar.

Nguyen Dac Khoa, an expert from the department, said that foot and mouth, flu, trachoma and diarrhea were common in Viet Nam.

"During May and August from 2010 to 2014, Viet Nam had 400,000 flu patients and 250,000 victims of diarrhea," he said.

Viruses can spread more easily in Viet Nam because of the tropical weather, poor environmental hygiene, limited individual hygiene, lack of effective specific remedies and preventive vaccines.

These factors can worsen illnesses, especially respiratory, digestive and infectious diseases.

He suggested that everyone perform a simple activity: effective handwashing with soap regularly every day, to prevent the spread of viruses.

"Handwashing with soap would eliminate the situation of 80 per cent of viruses causing disease through unhygienic hands," he said.

A report from the World Bank showed that an investment of US$3.35 in washing hands with soap can bring a benefit equal to $11 to upgrade toilets and $223 to link water supplies to households.

VNA/VNS/VOV/SGT/SGGP/TT/TN/Dantri