8,000 patients in need of kidney transplants

More than 8,000 patients in critical conditions nationwide are in need of kidney transplants while thousands of others are waiting for humanitarian organ donations.

The information was unveiled at the ceremony to posthumously honor 403 organ donors and encourage people to register for donating organs co-held on March 21 by Cho Ray Hospital, People’s Hospital No. 115 and Children’s Hospital No. 2 in HCMC.

Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Truong Son, director of Cho Ray Hospital, said since 1992, when the country’s first organ transplant operation was conducted, more than 1,200 patients have been donated organs, including 30 liver transplant patients, 10 heart transplant patients and most of the rest are kidney transplant cases.

However, more than 8,000 patients in the final stage of chronic kidney disease are in dire need of kidney transplants while 1,500 patients need new livers, 6,000 patients need new cornea and hundreds of others can be saved with donated hearts, lungs and pancreases, Son said.

According to experts in the field, one organ donor can help six to seven people but in Vietnam, the campaign of encouraging organ donation faces a lot of difficulties as many people are still of the opinion to keep their bodies and their relatives’ bodies untouched after death.

Nearly 400 volunteers ready for IPU-132

The Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union (HCYU) officially presented its teams of volunteers to support the upcoming 132nd Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU-132) Assembly on March 25.

Selected by the Vietnam Volunteer Centre in January, 395 students from universities and academic institutes across Hanoi have shown senses of responsibility and met both health and foreign language requirements.

The teams have been equipped with communication and external relation skills in line with updates on Vietnam’s socio-economic, political and cultural situation during the four-course training programme.

The chosen students have been allocated to the IPU-132 Secretariat and five working groups responsible for the event’s content, protocol, information & communication, security & healthcare and finance & logistics.

Nguyen Phi Long, HCYU Secretary and Vice President of the Vietnam Youth Federation, expressed his belief that the volunteers will contribute their youthful energy and strong enthusiasm to the success of this year’s IPU.

The 132nd Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly (IPU-132) to be held in Hanoi between March 28 and April 1 is among the most historically and diplomatically significant events in Vietnam this year.

Around 1,000 delegates, including high-ranking parliament officials and members of regional inter-parliamentary unions and international organisations worldwide, are scheduled to attend the event.

Over 300 journalists from local and international press and news agencies will cover the meetings.-

Over 13,400 impoverished receive clean water in Mekong Delta

Save the Children, a humanitarian organisation, held a conference in the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap on March 25 to review the outcomes of the HSBC-funded “Mekong Safe Water” project.

Over 13,400 impoverished locals and children in 12 communes in Dong Thap’s Cao Lanh and Thanh Binh districts have benefited from the project.

Under the 5 billion VND (232,000 USD) project, solar-powered water supply systems were installed in four local primary schools.

The project also provided households and kindergartens in the two districts with 2,200 water treatment devices and 370 rainwater storing systems.

Restrooms with hand-washing facilities were constructed at 12 schools.

The provision of clean water and hygienic sanitation facilities has reduced children and their families’ vulnerability to many diseases, particularly diarrhoea, pink eye and dengue fever.-

Works begins on Quang Nam-Da Nang Bridge

Work commenced on the Giao Thuy Bridge across the Thu Bon river on March 25, which will connect the mountainous districts of central Quang Nam province and central Da Nang city.

The bridge, which will span 1,002 metres in length and 12 metres in width, will cost over 823 billion VND (37.8 million USD). It is scheduled to become operational in September, 2017.

Once completed, the bridge will connect Nong Son, Que Son, Duy Xuyen, and Dai Loc districts of Quang Nam province with Da Nang city, facilitating travel between the two localities and reducing traffic congestion, especially during flooding season when ferry boats are required for travelling.

Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc asked authorities, investors and contractors from the two localities to work closely to ensure high quality and rapid progress of the project.

On the occasion, Quang Nam province officially opened the Ai Nghia Bridge over the Yen River, linking Ai Nghia town and Da Loc district.

The 125 metre-long bridge, built with a total investment of over 92 billion VND (4.3 million USD), contributes to boosting socio-economic development and minimising traffic jams in the west and surrounding areas of Quang Nam.

Danang celebrates 40th anniversary of liberation

A series of activities are being held in the central city of Danang to mark 40 years since its liberation (March 29, 1975-2015), according to the municipal Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

The city has organised a number of events this month, including an exhibition to mark 50 years since the US first deployed troops to the city, a book display, an Olympic Run Day, and a film week presentation about war memories.

A grand ceremony to celebrate the 40 th anniversary will be held on March 28 at the Tien Son Sport Palace.

A 15-minute firework show is to light up the Danang’s skyline at 9 pm on March 28 at the Nguyen Van Troi Bridge and NguHanh Son Stadium in Lien Chieu and HoaVang districts.

A special street music show, expected to provide an exciting and intimate musical atmosphere, will take place at 7 pm on March 27 on Bach Dang street riverside walk.

Localities across the city will also organise culture, sport, and art performances to mark the special event.

Drought disrupts lives, kills crops in Dak Lak

The Central Highlands province of Dak Lak has lost more than 3000ha of coffee plants and 1000ha of rice in this year's dry season thus far.

The provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development estimates the damage at several million dollars, but is yet to release specific figures.

Water levels in reservoirs have already dropped to alarmingly low levels, rivers and streams are drying up and more than 220,000ha of perennial industrial crops such as coffee, pepper and cacao are at risk.

Lam Quang Thang, a resident of Cu M'gar District, decided to dig a bore-well in the middle of the Ea Drong Lake to try and save his 5ha coffee garden.

"I know there isn't much chance of finding water here. But I don't know what else to do," he said. It was the fourth bore-well he was digging, and if he were to find some water, there is guarantee that it would be sufficient to last until the end of the dry season, which usually lasts from November to April in the Central Highlands.

The lack of water has not only affected agricultural production but also the daily lives of thousands of households in the province.

"I have to go to a nearby stream before sunrise to dig for water. But it takes me hours to find some," said Y Krin Eban, a resident of Krong Bong District.

The situation is not likely to improve anytime soon.

Tran Van Thieu, Director of the Dak Lak Water Supply and Construction JSC, said the company's water reserves had dropped to 4,000 cubic metres, which can only meet 75-80 per cent of local demand for clean water.

"If the drought continues, and farmers keep pumping underground water, our reserves will drop even lower."

To deal with the prolonged water shortage, the province has set up a drought control committee and deployed water trucks in residential areas.

However, officials admit that such measures are unlikely to provide lasting relief.

Dr. Le Ngoc Bau, head of the Western Highlands Agriculture and Forestry Science Institute, noted drought was common in the Central Highlands region during the dry-season.

"A sound irrigation and water management system is required as part of a permanent solution for the region's water shortage problem, and we need to take other measures including planting forests to conserve water both above and under the ground. Switching to crops that are more drought resistant should also be considered."

Large investments were required for such large-scale projects, said Trang Quang Thanh, head of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, adding that his office had requested the Dak Lak administration for more funds.

Vietnamese students spotlighted in SVUK’s Got Talent 2015

Over 1,000 Vietnamese students in the UK gathered at the Cadogan Hall in London on March 21 for the final round of SVUK’s Got Talent 2015.

The event was a significant highlight to mark the 10 th anniversary of the founding of the Vietnamese Students’ Association in the UK and North Ireland (SVUK).

Speaking at the event, Vietnamese Ambassador to the UK and North Ireland, Nguyen Van Thao lauded the important contributions of the association in popularising the image of dynamic country and people of Vietnam and its rich culture abroad as well as to strengthen ties between Vietnam and the UK.

According to Chairman of the SVUK, Mai Lan Van, the association has become a community bridge over the past decade with over 8,500 Vietnamese students.

Twelve outstanding contestants performed contemporary dances, operas, mash-ups, magic tricks, dance covers, and martial arts.

The judges of the finale, prominent celebrities themselves, performed as well, including including singer Ha Anh Tuan, dancer Linh Nga, and leader of St.319 dance crew Aiden.

Contestant Vuong Gia Hieu from Warwick University took first place for his own choreographed dance performance.

Profits from the event will be used to help children with birth defects at the National Hospital of Paediatric and Agent Orange/ Dioxin victims in Vietnam.

Vietnam, US army doctors share experience

Vietnamese and US army doctors commenced a professional exchange programme operating at Military Hospital 175 in Ho Chi Minh City on March 23.

During the programme, doctors from the US Air Force will share their experience and skills with their Vietnamese colleagues from health departments of southern localities and coast guard, naval, air and border guard forces.

Apart from exchanging knowledge in providing first aid to burn patients, controlling bleeding, and transporting patients by air, they will also discuss cross-sector cooperation prospects in military medicine.

Doctors from Military Hospital 175 have offered medical and emergency services and first aid at sea and to islands.

The programme will run through March 26.

Japanese-funded programme helps 200 eye patients

As many as 200 elderly patients in the central coastal provinces of Binh Thuan and Ninh Thuan on March 23 underwent cataract surgeries under a charity programme.

The programme was carried out by Japan’s Dai-Ichi Life Insurance company in collaboration with the Ho Chi Minh City Sponsoring Association for Poor Patients and the provincial Association for Disabled People and Orphans.

Besides, many visually impaired patients also received check-ups and treatment.

The programme, one of several charity activities that the Japanese firm is sponsoring, is now in its seventh year of operation. Dai-Ichi Life Insurance has contributed 120,000 USD to the plan, helping about 3,500 patients re-gain their eyesight.-

Lam Dong sets greenhouse gas goal

An action programme reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD +) for the 2015-2020 period in Lam Dong set a target to cut greenhouse gases by 27 percent by 2020, equalling 2,056,277 tonnes of CO2 per year.

REDD+, which officially began in the Central Highlands province on March 22, is worth some 1.75 trillion VND (81.5 million USD), and is aiming to curb deforestation and forest degradation, devise sustainable forest management and conservation initiatives and improve local livelihoods.

Lam Dong will focus on building its capacity and has planned a series of measures to reduce its carbon dioxide volume.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung approved REDD+ as a national action programme in July 2012 with the initial participation of eight provinces. Another seven have since joined.

After the northwestern mountainous province of Dien Bien, Lam Dong is the second province to complete its provincial REDD+ action plan nationwide.-

Vietnam official gets downgraded for striking another with beer glass after drinking

A foreign affairs official in southern Vietnam has been demoted for beating a home affairs leader after a drinking party last year.

The People’s Committee of Binh Phuoc Province on Sunday said the director of the provincial Department of Foreign Affairs had issued a decision to downgrade Bui Quoc Khanh, 40, to chief of the international cooperation office.

Khanh was deputy director of the department before.

The demotion was made in accordance with a recent directive by the People’s Committee to take disciplinary action against Khanh after he struck a glass of beer on the head of Pham Thanh Chung, deputy director of the local Department of Home Affairs, at a karaoke parlor in August 2014.

The People’s Committee has also issued another decision to give a warning to Chung.

At 2:00 pm on August 12, 2014, Khanh, Chung, and other provincial officials came to a karaoke bar in Dong Xoai Town for a bash to entertain a group of guests after completing a training course.

During the party, Chung became upset as Khanh failed to clink his glass of beer with his despite doing so to the guests.

After the guests left, Chung asked Khanh to stay on for a “talk.”

A quarrel broke out and Khanh splashed beer on Chung and hit him on the head with a glass, causing the official to be hospitalized for emergency aid

A day later, the two men apologized to each other and made reconciliation. But they were still punished for their misconduct.

Funds raised to support Vietnamese people in Kazan

The Vietnamese Embassy in Russia launched a funding campaign on March 23 to provide support for Vietnamese expats affected by the Admiral Trade Centre fire in Kazan city in the Russian Republic of Tatarstan on March 11.

Although no casualties were reported, the fire caused significant property damage impacting a number of Vietnamese nationals; many of whom lost their stores in last year’s fire at Ba Coi market.

Speaking at the event, Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Nguyen Thanh Son called on Vietnamese expats to promote solidarity by joining similar events to help Vietnamese overseas in distress in Russia and elsewhere.

On March 23, a fund worth US$1,000 was mobilised among officials from the Vietnamese Embassy and Vietnamese reporters in Russia.

The Admiral Trade Centre has 1,274 booths, 470 of which are run by Vietnamese nationals.

One Vietnamese had a broken bone and was hospitalised on March 12 while two others suffered slight injuries during the fire.

Drug-resistant tuberculosis troubles doctors in Hanoi

While there were few new cases of tuberculosis in Hanoi last year, a strain of the disease resistant to a variety of drugs had complicated treatment, health experts said at a recent conference.

The March 23 conference was held to mark World Tuberculosis Day, which fell on March 24.

Every year about 5,000 new cases of the disease are reported in Hanoi. Ninety percent of them are eventually cured.

However, Pham Huu Thuong, Director of the Hanoi Lung Hospital, said that every year, 60 to 80 patients were difficult to cure because of multidrug- resistance TB.

Thuong said that resistance was caused by patients not obeying doctors advice during treatment, low-quality medicine - and sudden changes in TB genes.

"Most TB patients are poor and rarely access multimedia, so they are not aware of how to prevent the disease from spreading," said Thuong.

The treatment period was often long, at least 19 months, so it strongly affected patients' lives.

Since 2011, Hanoi Lung Hospital has given pilot treatment to 260 hard-to-heal patients based on a national programme for TB control.

"Initial results showed that multidrug-resistance TB bacteria and treatment expenses decreased," said Thuong.

In future, the Lung Hospital and the Ha Dong TB and Lung Diseases Prevention and Control Centre, which are responsible for supervising the disease in Hanoi, will join hand with all hospitals to apply new technology.

People living with HIV must receive early health checks to discover the disease in time.

More training will be given for medical workers, especially those at commune medical stations.

Vietnam now ranks 12th in a list of 22 countries with high rates of TB. It ranks 14th out of 27 countries with a high rate of multi-drug-resistance TB.

National anti-tuberculosis programme builds on encouraging outcomes

The National Tuberculosis Control Programme (NTP) aims to reduce the TB incidence rate to 187 per 100,000 people and the fatality rate to below 18 per 100,000 in 2015, based on its encouraging outcomes in the previous year.

This year, all TB patients are expected to have access to standard treatment methods and receive sufficient and high-quality medicine, Director of the National Lung Hospital and Head of the NTP Nguyen Viet Nhung said in an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency.

The programme also strives to control the rate of multidrug-resistant TB patients to fewer than 5 percent of the total newly-detected cases, while increasing the application of modern diagnosis and treatment technology and improving the qualifications of health workers, he said.

In 2014, the national campaign was carried out nationwide, discovering over 102,000 TB sufferers.

The TB prevention network was developed in 36 underprivileged districts of nine provinces, Quang Binh, Ha Tinh, Hoa Binh, Bac Giang, Nam Dinh, Nghe An, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai and Gia Lai.

Currently, 44 out of the 63 cities and provinces across the country have established tuberculosis and lung hospitals.

The Vietnamese Government also approved the TB prevention strategy through 2020, Nhung said.

As a result, 29 cities and provinces created steering committees for implementing the national TB strategy in January 2015.

The Global Fund also pledged an aid package of 42 million USD for the national TB prevention strategy between 2015 and 2017.

The broadened application of the GeneXpert technology has helped Vietnam to become one of the five countries around the world to successfully treat over 70 percent of the multidrug-resistant TB patients.

The Government and the Ministry of Health provided 75 billion VND (3.5 million USD) to ensure TB medicine supply in 2014. The World Health Organisation (WHO) will support this with medicine, including the US trial drugs Bedaquiline and Japanese Delamanid which have shown initial effective results in comparison with the current standard treatment methods.

According to the WHO, tuberculosis is the second leading infectious cause of death while multidrug-resistant TB is present in almost all countries around the world.

Quang Binh, HCM City seek to boost tourism links

Travel agencies operating in the central province of Quang Binh and Ho Chi Minh City met at a conference in the southern city on March 24 to discuss ways to promote cooperation between the two localities in the field.

Detailed information on tourism products and services in Quang Binh, which boasts a large number of popular sites, were introduced at the event.

Addressing the event, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Tran Tien Dung revealed that Quang Binh plans to make tourism a primary economic sector, adding that local authorities will create favourable conditions for enterprises and tourism firms to invest in the locality.

He noted Quang Binh’s tourism sector is struggling to develop infrastructure and train human resources.

While sharing HCM City’s experience in developing tourism, Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Tourism Pham Huy Binh stressed the need to enhance tourism links between the two localities to further promote the central area’s attractions.

The city will support Quang Binh’s tourism promotion activities as well as increase investment in the central province, he affirmed.

In 2014, Quang Binh welcomed 2.8 million travellers, nearly two times that of 2013.

The Vietnam Records Organisation recently listed four tourism sites in Quang Binh among the top 50 must-see travel destinations in Vietnam, including Phong Nha Cave, Ngang Pass, Nhat Le Beach and Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park.

With the opening of Son Doong Cave in 2013, Quang Binh was catapulted onto the bucket lists of travellers all over the world.

The New York Times named Quang Binh as one of the most attractive destinations in Asia and ranked it eighth out of the world’s 52 must-see sites for 2014.

Drunk drivers should be charged criminally

A criminal charge against drunk drivers or those steering overloaded trucks should be added to the Vietnamese Penal Code, the Directorate for Roads of Vietnam, under the Ministry of Transport, has recommended.

The directorate has suggested that the ministry ask law-making bodies to consider filing criminal charges against drunk drivers when their alcohol level is over 100 mg per 100 ml of blood or over 0.5 mg per liter of breath, local media reported, saying this suggestion is meant to improve road safety.

These proposed levels are higher than those at which drivers will be given the highest penalties in accordance with Government Decree 171/2013 on violations of traffic rules, said Nguyen Van Huyen, chief of the directorate.

Under the decree, drivers with alcohol levels of over 80 mg per 100 ml of blood or over 0.4 mg per liter of breath will be subject to the heaviest punishment, Huyen said.

He elaborated that such drivers will be fined VND10-15 million (US$465-697.5) if they are driving an automobile and VND2-3 million ($93-139.5) if they are driving a motorbike.

The lawbreakers will have their vehicles impounded for a week and their driver’s licenses revoked for two months, the directorate chief noted.

A criminal treatment of drunk drivers is a necessary measure to lower the number of traffic accidents caused by drunk driving, Huyen said.

In many other countries, drunk drivers may be prosecuted and face jail terms, in addition to pecuniary fines and revocation of driver’s licenses, he added.

As for drivers of vehicles overloaded with goods, they should be charged criminally when they repeat the act of carrying a load over 150 percent of the highest allowable volume after they have already been given an administrative fine for the same behavior, the official said.

Driving vehicles that way has become common in Vietnam, posing threats to other drivers and damaging many roads, Huyen said.

Earlier this month, the National Traffic Safety Committee suggested that the government approve new and heavier penalties for drunk drivers of both automobiles and motorbikes, and for drivers of overloaded trucks.

Accordingly, drivers of automobiles with alcohol levels of over 0.4 mg per liter of breath or over 80 mg per 100 ml of blood will have the vehicles they have driven confiscated – not merely impounded as under current regulations – and they must also take an exam on road traffic rules if they want to get a driver’s license again.

Drivers of motorbikes with alcohol levels of over 80 mg per 100 ml of blood or over 0.4 mg per liter of breath will have the vehicles they are driving confiscated – not merely impounded as under current regulations.

These propositions have become a bone of contention among the public and regulatory agencies that question the legal foundation of such confiscation as well as the feasibility of this measure, as the violators may not be the owners of the vehicles they are driving.

USAID opens video contest for students

The U.S. Agency for International Development - USAID Vietnam has announced a Student Video Contest with the theme on development issues in Vietnam.

Participants are advised to send an original video demonstrating a development issue in the community (health, education, agriculture, climate change, pollution, women’s empowerment, small business assistance, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) and other vulnerable groups among others) and propose a solution that could be applied to improve it.

Videos can be no longer than three minutes. Submissions are limited to one entry per person/group of only original content; group or individual work is both accepted.

Submitted videos must be in HD format. Subtitles/captions are encouraged (English subtitles/captions if the original language is Vietnamese and vice-versa).

People should submit entries by uploading files through Vimeo. Those who don’t have a Vimeo account should visit https://vimeo.com/join. Deadline for submissions is by April 28.

Three winners of the first, second and third prizes will respectively receive a MacBook Air, an iPhone 6 and an iPad mini with certificates of appreciation.

The results will be announced on June 5. For further information, visit https://www.facebook.com/USAIDVietnam or contact Ms. Hoang Nghe Ha, USAID/Vietnam Partner Capacity, Development Program Officer, via email pcdvietnam@gmail.com.

Irrigation benefits in Central Highlands

Central Highlands provinces have invested in 2,261 irrigation initiatives with nearly 5,000 kilometres of canals to date, meeting the socio-economic development demand in the localities.

The irrigational system includes 1,150 reservoirs, 942 dams and 114 water-pumping stations, ensuring water for more than 202,100 hectares of crops including rice, coffee and vegetables, according to the Steering Committee for the Central Highlands Region.

A number of substantial irrigation works have served socio-economic development and ensured security and defence such as Dak Uy, Ayun Ha, Ea Sup Thuong, Ea Sup Ha and Ea Kao reservoirs.

More importantly, ethnic minority groups in the region have sufficient water for daily use.

According to a master plan on irrigation in the region through 2020, the provinces are to invest in an additional 1,614 irrigation works and upgrading 756 existing systems through a total capital of 58 trillion VND (2.67 billion USD).

The Central Highlands region comprises the five provinces of Dak Lak, Gia Lai, Kon Tum, Dak Nong and Lam Dong.

Vietnam to issue international driving licences

The Directorate for Roads of Vietnam will start to issue international driving licences in August.

Nguyen Thang Quan, head of the directorate's Vehicles and Drivers Management Department, told online newspaper VnExpress that the directorate was compiling a circular with instructions on issuing international driving licences.

The circular is expected to be completed by August. Under the decision, drivers can obtain the licence by paying a fee of VND135,000 (US$6.5) by wire transfer, he said.

The international driving licences will look like passports and will be available in various languages including English, French, Russian and Spanish. This international driving licence will be valid in 73 countries.

The Vienna Convention on Road Traffic is an international treaty designed to facilitate international road traffic and increase road safety by establishing standardised traffic rules amongst the participating parties.

The Convention was ratified at the United Nations Economic and Social Council's Conference on Road Traffic in Vienna in 1968. It came into effect on May 21, 1977. By August 2014, Vietnam had ratified the convention.

VTC-VOV merger to promote broadcasting development

The merger of VTC Digital Television and Radio and The Voice of Vietnam (VOV) demonstrates the Government and the ministry’s focus on the development of broadcasting and television in the country, Minister of Information and Communication Nguyen Bac Son has said.

The merger is compatible with the plan on development and management of national journalism by 2025, the minister added.

The merging plan must ensure the rights, sustainability and development of the VOV, VTC and its parent company, the VTC Multimedia Corporation, according to Minister Son.

The process of merging is carried out in different phases, including the settlement of capital, estate and finance obligations, and feedback on the plan from ministries and sectors, according to the ministry.

VNA/VNS/VOV/SGT/SGGP/Dantri