Police prosecute genital warts incident in Hung Yen Province

Police in the northern province of Hung Yen yesterdaydecided to prosecute nurse who performed circumcision for kids in Khoai Chau District leading to the hospitalization for genital warts. 

According to police, it is serious incident because 100 kids were taken to hospital in Hanoi for treatment of genital warts. Nursse Hoang Thi Hien will face prosecution of opening unlicensed clinic, providing illegal medical service and sales of medicine as per the law.

People’s Committee in Hung Yen Province issue a fine of VND100 million($4,400) to nurse Hien and the nurse was suspended from work for 12 months.

Before, families of kids suffering genital warts after undergoing circumcision in nurse Hien’s unlicensed clinic has filed a lawsuit against the nurse to related agencies including the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Health.

Families must stay in hospital with their kids and worse, their children face discrimination from neighbors and friends.

According to families, nurse Hien cheated patients since she treated kids under the name of a pediatrician of a well-known hospital in Hanoi.

Families expected to have a strict penalty for her.

The Ministry of Health asked the National Hospital of Dermatology and Venereology and the National Children Hospital in Hanoi increased information of the disease to curb the transmission of genital warts. .

Medical experts will probe the transmission sources in Khoai Chau District, provide health check-up to relatives of kids and medical equipment in nurse Hien’s clinic.

Tetanus re-occurred yet people neglect it

It seemed to wipe out tetanus in Vietnam yet the disease has reoccurred lately, even some localities have outbreaks of tetanus. 

86 year old man Nguyen Thanh Hien in the Mekong delta’s Cho Moi District experienced spasms and stiffness in the jaw muscles, stiffness of the neck muscles, difficulty swallowing and painful body spasms lasting for several minutes.

His relatives thought him to have Cerebrovascular accident; accordingly, they rushed him to the local infirmary where doctors could not diagnose what disease so he was transferred to the province’s General Hospital. The old man was diagnosed to have tetanus and directly rushed to the Tropical Disease Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City. At this time, the old man remembered he scraped the skin off his elbow because he grated it against the wall.

Meantime, 60 year old Nguyen Van Ban in the central province of Binh Thuan had tetanus because he had hit the thumb with a hammer. Thinking simply, he bought medication from nearby pharmacy to have. However, seven days later, he suffered spasms and stiffness in the jaw muscles, stiffness of the neck muscles, difficulty swallowing and painful body spasms.

His relatives took him to a local acupuncturist who provide treatment with herb yet his condition has not abated. So worried, his relatives took him to the hospital where doctors announced him to have tetanus.

According to the Tropical Disease Hospital’s statistics, in first six months of the year, it has admited 160 tetanus patients; most of whom are adults and two neonates; or averagely, it receives 10 - 15 tetanus patients a day.

At present, medical workers in the Intensive Care unit are treating 13 serious tetanus patients while the Infection ward D is treating 40 cases of infections.

Deputy head of the hospital’s Intensive care unit Dr. Duong Bich Thuy said that tetanus people usually have the symptoms such as spasms and stiffness in the jaw muscles, stiffness of the neck muscles, difficulty swallowing and painful body spasms. Because patients suffer stiffness in jaw muscles, their relatives solely thought of Cerebrovascular accident without thinking of tetanus; therefore, the disease is not early detected. Some patients were rushed to the hospital when they are in serious condition, said Dr. Thuy.

Chief of the Infection Ward D Dr. Nguyen Thanh Phong said that the disease can threaten patients’ lives especially elderly people with chronic disease.

People will stay in medical clinic during one or two months paying big charges. Moreover, they may not work later due to stiffness. Medical experts advised vaccination is the best way to prevent the disease.

Currently, tetanus vaccine is included in the National Expanded Immunization Program; the rate of neonatal tetanus dropped drastically.

Nevertheless, a large quantity of adults and elderly people are easily affected by the disease because they were not fully immunized when being kids.

Most tetanus people in the Infection Ward D have not been vaccinated before. Worse, some peopel neglected the disease when they had wounds in climbs without having a tetanus shot.

Dr. Nguyen Thanh Phong said that people in the labor age make up a big rate in the infections because they usually work with items that cause wounds. He advised to have shot not only tetanus but also other contagious diseases.

Traffic jam worsens in entrances to Tan Son Nhat Airport

HCMC has tackled 37 traffic jam spots but there are 12 complex spots especially at entrances to Tan Son Nhat International Aiport and to Cat Lai Seaport, reported director of the HCMC Department of Transport Bui Xuan Cuong yesterday.

Two flyovers have been opened to traffic to reduce traffic jam in Tan Son Nhat Airport still the issue has not been solved.

Mr. Cuong forecast that at the end of this year, Tan Son Nhat will receive 36 million passengers while it is planned to serve only 25 million passengers by 2020.

Meantime, road building and upgrading projects in the area have not been implemented.

167 disadvantaged students receive scholarships

167 disadvantaged students received Nguyen Duc Canh Scholarships for the 2017-2018 academic year with total value worth over VND 300 million yesterday.

The Ho Chi Minh City Labor Unions held the award ceremony for 167 disadvantaged students, pupils with outstanding academic results, aiming to help them continue their studies at school.

Each scholarship is worth from VND 1.2million to 3million, ranging VND 1.2million for a primary school student; VND 1.5million for a secondary school student and VND 1.8million for a high school student and VND 3million for a university student.

Launch of Japan’s JDS scholarships 2017 for Vietnamese officials

The Japanese Grant Aid for Human Resource Development Scholarship Program (JDS), provided by the Japanese Government in non-refundable aid, has been officially launched, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) announced on July 28.

The scholarships are designed for Vietnamese officials who are working for State agencies and are expected to made significant contributions to the socio-economic development in Vietnam.

JDS is a full scholarship covering tuition, airfare, a monthly living allowance and other grants. The scholarship program was first employed in Vietnam in 2000 and has since provided 514 scholarships for Vietnamese officials.

The JDS 2017 will provide two-year masters degrees in various areas, including economics, transport, urban development, energy, agriculture, the environment, law and public administration for Vietnamese candidates in the 2018-2021 period.

As many as 60 of the best candidates will be sent to Japan in August 2018 in order to attend the two-year course.

A conference introducing the JDS 2017 is scheduled to take place in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Nghe An, Lam Dong and Da Nang in August this year.

JDS is a cooperation program within the partnership between the Vietnamese Ministry of Education and Training, JICA and the Japanese Embassy in Vietnam.

Ho Chi Minh City Days programme opens in Lao capital

The 2017 Ho Chi Minh City Days in Vientianne, themed ‘Forever green and forever sustainable friendship between Vietnam and Laos’, officially opened in the Lao capital on July 29.

The event was attended by Deputy Secretary of Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Tat Thanh Cang; Lao Politburo member, Secretary of Secretary of the Party Committee and Mayor of Vientiane Sinlavong Khouphaythoune; and Vietnamese Ambassador in Laos Nguyen Ba Hung.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Deputy Secretary of Ho Chi Minh City’s Party Committee Tat Thanh Cang emphasised that Ho Chi Minh City always pay special attention to enhancing the relationship with Laos in general and Vientiane in particular.

Regular visits made by leaders of the two cities and the cooperation projects have been successfully implemented, contributing to the prosperous development and fine relations between Ho Chi Minh City and Vientiane, he added.

At the ceremony, Mayor of Vientiane Sinlavong Khouphaythoune affirmed that the ‘Ho Chi Minh City Days in Vientiane’ programme will significantly contribute to tightening the friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Laos and Vietnam, particularly the two cities.

After the opening ceremony, the delegates visited an exhibition entitled ‘Forever green and forever sustainable friendship between Vietnam and Laos’. On display are photos featuring the support and cooperation activities for socio-economic development between Ho Chi Minh City and Vientiane as well as highlighting Ho Chi Minh City’s achievements in the cause of building and developing the southern city.

The exhibition also introduces Vietnamese cuisine and traditional musical instruments as well as cultural products and handicraft products of Ho Chi Minh City, including gemstone paintings, embroidery works and rice paintings.

In addition, a wide variety of meaningful activities will be held during the event, including the Trade and Tourism Promotion Conference between Ho Chi Minh City and Laos and an arts programme celebrating the 55th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam - Laos bilateral diplomatic ties and the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Vietnam-Laos Treaty of Amity and Cooperation.

A delegation of Ho Chi Minh City, led by Deputy Secretary of the City’s Party Committee Tat Thanh Cang, is paying working visits to Vientiane, Champasak province, Savannakhet province and Xiangkhouang province from July 25 to August 1.

Foreign visitors to Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park rise by 140%

Nearly 400,000 visitors including 67,000 foreign tourists have come to Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park so far this year, an increase of 140 per cent compared to the same period last year according to the park management board.

According to a report released on July 28 by the board, dozens of tours including six ecological and adventurous tours have successfully been organised at Phong Nha-Ke Bang recently which help visitors explore the limestone mountains, a vast network of caves, tropical forests and underground rivers in the UNESCO World Heritage site.

Besides, the park is cooperating with travel companies to open more ecological tours at several spots with beautiful and diversified scenery in Tan Trach Commune. A safari tour is also being considered at U Bo Forest Ranger Station to offer more choices for visitors, the report said.

Some of the projects being developed include the Sinh Ton Valley ecological tour which includes a 25-kilometre walking route, mountain climbing and a visit to Thuy Cung Cave; a Zipline system and Khe Mon resort.

Lying in the central province of Quang Binh, Phong Nha-Ke Bang Park is famous for its ancient limestone karsts and hundreds of cave systems including the world's longest Son Doong Cave that are suitable for various types of tours. The area’s rich wildlife includes tigers, black bears and elephants.

VNForest moots halting harmful projects

The Việt Nam Administration of Forestry (VNForest) has proposed halting two commercial activities projects on forest land in the central province of Phú Yên.

In a report issued on July 14, VNForest suggested the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development ask Phú Yên provincial People’s Committee to stop a beef cattle farming project in sub-areas 310 and 311 in Sông Hinh Commune of Sông Hinh District and list the sub-areas as areas for protection.

The first phase of the beef project of Thảo Nguyên Phú Yên Breed Joint Stock Company was set to cover nearly 39ha. The area is located next to and stretching over 20km along the main dam of Sông Hinh hydropower reservoir.

These areas are natural forests, beside the protection forest in the Hinh River basin, and the alternative forest of the Ba Hạ River hydropower project. Therefore, they are important to the protection of the Hinh River hydropower reservoir.

However, Phú Yên provincial People’s Committee did not assess the project’s effects as regulated in the then Prime Minister Nguyễn Tấn Dũng’s Directive 1685/CT-TTg, dated September 27, 2011. Its actions were also not in line with Directive 13-CT/TW, dated January 12, 2017, of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat on forest management, protection and development.

VNForest also requested New City Vietnam Co. Ltd, the investor of a high-end tourism site in An Phú Commune of Tuy Hòa City, to suspend all activities harming coastal forest.

The administration asked Phú Yên’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to direct its forest protection sub-department and subordinate units to investigate the company’s exploitation of about 2.7ha of protection forest without permission of an authorised State agency.

VNForest also asked the agriculture ministry to request Phú Yên People’s Committee to clarify the responsibility and strictly handle violations.

Khôi stays first, Dương leads in chess

Nguyễn Anh Khôi has maintained his place at the top of the men’s category in the National Chess Team Championship, despite a draw in Ho Chi Minh City yesterday.

The young “International Master,” competing in his home city, drew with his senior teammate Phạm Chương in their seven-round match.

With 6.5 points, Khôi still leads the event with only two rounds remaining. He will face Tô Nhật Minh of Hà Nội in his next match, who is now in second place with six points.

In the women’s competition, Bạch Ngọc Thùy Dương jumped to first place with six points, replacing her teammate Hoàng Thị Bảo Trâm after her win over Nguyễn Trương Bảo Trân of Cần Thơ yesterday. Trâm dropped to second place after she drew with Nguyễn Thị Mai Hưng of Bắc Giang. Hưng is now in third place.

The top position in the mixed doubles also went to Hồ Chí Minh City after five games, followed by Bình Dương and Kiên Giang.

The “standard” chess competition will end today while the “rapid and blitz” competition will be held on 30th July to 2nd August.

VP Milk supports footballers ahead of SEA Games

The national U22 team and women’s squad will receive support from the Việt Nam Professional Milk Company (VP Milk) after a signing ceremony yesterday in Hà Nội.

Under their deal, VP Milk will provide nutrition milk to two teams until March 31, 2018.

The younger squads will also enjoy the support.

VP Milk is also a sponsor of Hoàng Anh Gia Lai FC.

Head coaches of the U-22s and the women also hoped that VP Milk support would push their players in their SEA Games campaigns next months in Malaysia.

Becamex Cup: Phương in singles semis, doubles final

Việt Nam’s Nguyễn Văn Phương beat No 2 seed Lu Pengyu to enter the semi-final of the International Tennis Federation Junior Becamex Cup’s boys’ singles yesterday in Bình Dương Province.

Phương, the No 5 seed, just encountered a little difficulty in the form of Chinese Lu in the first set before winning 7-6 (5), 6-4.

He will next see No 4 Siddharth Thakran of India in the last-four stage.

The other semi-final will be a game between No 1 Arthur Craig Pantino of the Philippines and No 7 Zeng Zicheng of China.

In the boys’ doubles event, Phương and his partner Huỳnh Thịnh secured a berth in the final after beating Hong Kong representative Chan Pak Hong Issac and Yao Tzs Yan Adrian 6-3, 4-6, 10-7.

The No 4 pair will vie for gold medal against No 1 Lo Yi Jui of Chinese Taipei and Lu Pengyu.

HCM City Paediatrics Hospital set to begin treatment of inpatients

The recently opened HCM City Paediatrics Hospital in the outlying district of Bình Chánh will begin inpatient examination and treatment when it inaugurates its new building on August 1, according to the city’s Department of Health.

The modern, 1,000-bed is expected to reduce the overcrowding that plagues both Paediatrics Hospital 1 and 2 because of the increasing incidence of dengue fever since May, Nguyễn Trọng Khoa, deputy head of the Medical Examination and Treatment Department, said during a visit to the city to monitor the situation earlier this month.

This year the city has recorded 10,652 cases of dengue, a 21 per cent increase over the same period last year, according to the city Preventive Health Centre.

A Department of Health official said 50 beds in the Department of Contagious Diseases in the new building would be earmarked for dengue patients, including those transferred from provincial hospitals.

The department has instructed both the other paediatrics hospitals to send their doctors to the new hospital -- which opened six months ago -- to help treat inpatients.

Six months ago the HCM City Paediatrics Hospital began treating outpatients.

It gets more than 1,000 patients every day, leading to a decrease of nearly 4,000 patients at the Paediatrics Hospital 1 in the first six months.

The construction of the hospital cost VNĐ4.5 trillion (US$197 million).

Hepatitis prevention needs more investment

The health sector has called for more financial resources and efforts in the fight against hepatitis in Việt Nam and the world.

A meeting was held Friday in Hà Nội to mark World Hepatitis Day on July 28.

“Việt Nam is one of three countries in the Western Pacific with the highest number of people suffering from chronic hepatitis B and C. Chronic hepatitis B infection is the main cause of liver disease, such as cirrhosis and liver cancer, in Việt Nam,” Deputy Minister of Health Nguyễn Viết Tiến said at the event.

“Although recently, the infection rate has witnessed a declining trend, the disease has still placed a heavy burden on capacities and resources of Việt Nam’s health system,” Tiến said.

“To minimise new infection cases, preventive measures should be expanded with a focus on the increase of Hepatitis B immunisation rate and blood transfusion quality, especially increasing the vaccination rate of newborns within 24 hours after birth,” the deputy minister of health said.

Tiến said the health sector was working with relevant sectors to expand intervention measures against hepatitis B and C and develop policies to minimise treatment expenses for patients with chronic hepatitis B and C.

Tiến said the treatment not only aimed to cure patients, but also prevent hepatitis B and C from spreading in the community. Hepatitis B can be prevented with the currently available safe and effective vaccine, while 90 per cent of hepatitis C patients can be cured thanks to the advent of new directly acting antivirals (DAAs).

On the occasion, the health ministry urged the Vietnamese to protect themselves and their families by bringing children to medical stations to get hepatitis B and C vaccinations. People at a risk of hepatitis should visit hospitals for tests and early treatment. Hospitals and doctors are required to ensure that patients are provided with safe services during examination and treatment, he added.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) said an estimated 8.7 million people in Việt Nam are living with chronic hepatitis B and one million others are living with chronic hepatitis C, and require treatment. An estimated 8.8 per cent of women and 12.3 per cent of men are chronically infected with hepatitis B.

According to latest WHO data from the Global Hepatitis Report released in April 2017, an estimated 325 million people worldwide are living with chronic hepatitis B or hepatitis C virus infection. Of these, 129 million (40 per cent) are living in the Western Pacific Region (115 million with hepatitis B and 14 million with hepatitis C). The 2017 report also indicates that the large majority of these people lack access to life-saving tests and treatment. As a result, millions of people are at risk of progression towards chronic liver disease, cancer and death.

Chinese Embassy marks People's Liberation Army anniversary in Hanoi

The Chinese Embassy in Vietnam celebrated the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (August 1) in Hanoi on July 28.

The event was attended by head of the General Department of Politics of the Vietnam People's Army Sen. Lieut. Gen. Luong Cuong, and representatives of various ministries, sectors and friendship organisations.

Over the past years, defense relations between Vietnam and China have developed in many fields, specially cooperation between naval forces, coast guards, border guards and institutions.

On behalf of the Vietnamese Ministry of Defense, Cuong extended his congratulations on the occasion of the anniversary of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army.

38,000 blood units collected in Red Journey 2017

5,000 blood units were collected on July 29 in Hanoi, the final stop of this year’s Red Journey, an annual blood donation campaign.

Volunteers traveled throughout 28 provinces and cities across Vietnam in July to collect blood and raise public awareness of the importance of blood donation. 38,000 blood units were collected nationwide, 50% more than the set target.

Professor Nguyen Anh Tri, Director of the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, said the 5th event of its kind aims to replenish blood shortages during summer months.

"Dengue fever broke out in Vietnam months ago and became worst in July. Many patients were saved thanks to the blood collected in the Red Journey program, which has encouraged many more people to donate their blood for medical treatment," Tri added.

First launched in 2013, the Red Journey campaign has so far collected 115,000 blood units to meet the growing demand for emergency and treatment cases. 

More than 5 million Vietnamese people suffer from Thalassemia, with 20,000 patients receiving treatment and over 2,000 children born with the disease.