Institutional improvement must for effective disaster prevention

Workers fix an irrigation project damaged by floods in northern mountainous Lai Châu Province’s Than Uyên District.

Việt Nam should improve the country’s institutions and legal documents to enhance efficiency in natural disaster prevention and control, said Hoàng Văn Thắng, deputy minister of agriculture and rural development.

He said this during the second consultation meeting in Hà Nội on Wednesday mainstreaming the content of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Reduction in the context of the national strategy for natural disaster prevention and control till 2030, with a vision to 2050.

The meeting was co-organised by the Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control and the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

Thắng said disaster management should have integrated solutions and that disaster risk management should be a priority, adding that mass participation should be mobilised at all levels.

According to him, investment is currently mainly focused on response solutions and due attention is not being paid to disaster mitigation solutions.

In fact, development without sustainable solutions has resulted in the increase of natural disasters. For example, the construction of infrastructure without proper planning has caused floods and flash floods to recur.

The pressure of population growth and the expansion of the economy have also heightened the risk of natural disasters. Thắng said it was necessary to consider between development goals and natural mitigation activities.

Sustainable development should be closely linked with disaster risk management and climate change, he added.

The Sendai Framework for Disaster Reduction sets out seven targets that countries need to achieve, including information access, international co-operation and national and local strategies with a vision to 2020.

Based on the nature of the disaster and the targets of the Sendai Framework, Việt Nam has strived to minimise economic losses caused by natural disasters, particularly storms, floods and droughts, by focusing on disaster prevention.

Việt Nam has set forth six priority programmes, which include strengthening the capacity of central and local agencies as well as the community, establishing a disaster management information system and restructuring of production and livelihoods for sustainable development of the Mekong Delta to adapt to climate change.

Addressing the consultation, Takeya Kimio, technical adviser to the president of JICA, said since the Sendai Framework was formulated, Việt Nam had taken initiative and made great efforts to improve its institutions to increase resilience and persistence for disasters.

JICA would support the country in the first five years to strengthen its institutions, develop strategic plans and implement them as well as in setting up plans on disaster prevention in localities, Kimio said. 

Awards ceremony for “Savour Vietnam” photo, video, writing contest

The Saigontourist Company and Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper held an awards ceremony for the second edition of their photography, video, and writing contest themed “Savour Vietnam” with a total value of 685 million VND (30,100 USD). 

Speaking at the event, Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan expressed hope that authors will continue their creativity to honour and introduce Vietnam’s landscapes, cultural identity, and traditions to international friends. 

Between August 2017 and March 2018, the organising board received thousands of entries by professional and amateur creators both at home and abroad, including more than 8,100 photos, nearly 900 articles, and 198 video clips which laud the culture, history, cuisine, traditional heritage, and people from across the country. 

The first prize went to the photography collection “Ban Gioc Waterfall” by Le Duc Thanh, while the second and third prizes were presented to the collections “Cat Ba from atop” by Ho Ngoc Binh and “Colour of the Northwestern Region in May” by Nguyen Anh Tuan, respectively. Three third and four consolation prizes were also given. 

In the writing category, “Vu Dai Village Today” by Pham Thi Minh Thu won first prize. Le Quang Kiet’s “Falling in Love with Con Dao” and “Road to the Northeastern Frontier” by Dinh Thi Hong Ngoc wer awarded with second prize,. There were also three third and five consolation prizes. 

In the videography category, “Vietnam’s Sea” by Nguyen Minh Tan grabbed the first prize, “Nam Du: 30 miles” by Le Dinh Sam and “Vietnam: My homeland” by Nguyen Vinh Hien received the second prizes. The organising board also presented three third and four consolation prizes to outstanding authors. 

Saigontourist General Director Tran Hung Viet expressed his hope that the contest will reflect attachment to the country and pride in Vietnamese culture and history, while inspiring the wonders of Vietnam to locals and tourists alike. 

On the occasion, the organising board released a 200-page photography book entitled “Savour Vietnam” written in both Vietnamese and English. It will be one of the main publications that the city’s leaders will present to diplomats and domestic and foreign partners.

Sports festival helps enhance solidarity among overseas Vietnamese in Ukraine

Nearly 100 Vietnamese football, table-tennis, and tennis players and coaches in Ukraine participated in a sports festival held by the Vietnamese Embassy there.

The event, which took place in Kharkov city, forms part of the Vietnamese Cultural Year in Ukraine’s activities. It attracted nearly 1,000 spectators from Kharkov, Kiev and Odessa. 

In his opening remarks, Ambassador Nguyen Anh Tuan said the event demonstrates the response of the Vietnamese community in Ukraine to the late President Ho Chi Minh’s call to exercise in order to better their health, as well as their solidarity. 

Elsewhere, the “Vietnam Day” programme was held in Lviv city, the centre of culture and history in western Ukraine, also as part of the activities for the Vietnamese Cultural Year in Ukraine.

The event was co-held by the Embassy; the Vietnamese Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism; the Vietnam-Ukraine Friendship Association; and local authorities. 

Organised in the region for the first time, the “Vietnam Day” saw the participation of Vietnamese people across the nation as well as from neighbouring countries such as Germany, Poland, and Hungary.

The programme featured a series of activities, including fairs that introduced Vietnamese goods and cuisine to the local population, along with seminars on tourism cooperation, and a photo exhibition on Vietnam’s landscapes and people.

One of the highlights of the event was an art programme with Vietnam’s traditional instruments performed by artists of Vietnam and overseas Vietnamese from Ukraine’s cities of Kiev, Odessa and Kharkov, attracting many residents and tourists in Lviv city. 

Over 76 percent of Hanoi communes recognised as new-style rural areas

As many as 294 out of the 386 communes in Hanoi, or 76.16 percent, have been recognised as new-style rural areas. 

As many as 294 out of the 386 communes in Hanoi, or 76.16 percent, have been recognised as new-style rural areas, said the municipal steering board of the programme on agriculture development and new-style rural area construction for 2016-2020.

In addition, four of the 18 city districts have now received the title.

Average per capita income in rural areas reached 38 million VND (about 1,650 USD), rising by 5 million VND compared to 2015. Health insurance coverage in the districts and towns hit 83.53 percent, while the rate of rural poor households was brought down to 2.57 percent in late 2017 from 3.65 percent in early of 2016.

The steering board has been closely monitoring and addressing difficulties in the implementation of the programme across 16 districts. Meanwhile, the municipal People’s Council has issued new policies creating favourable conditions to realise the programme’s targets.

Over the last two years, the city spent more than 25 trillion VND on the implementation of the programme, with 58 billion VND from the State budget and about 10.6 trillion VND from the city’s coffer.

By 2020, Hanoi aims to have from 10-12 districts and 85 percent of the communes recognised as new-style areas. It also plans to raise the average per capita income of rural residents to 49 million VND and bring poor rural household rate to under 1.5 percent, while ensuring that all rural citizens will have access to clean water. 

The city is now home to 154 large-scale fields of high-quality rice, 100 safe vegetable production zones, and 50 gardens for flower and ornamental plant cultivation. As many as 12 collective brand names have been established, including Dan Phuong grapefruit and Dai Thanh longan.

Moreover, the city has developed 15 areas of cattle farms and 76 key animal breeding communes. In 2017, the production value of Hanoi’s cattle-raising industry increased 2.74 percent.

Hanoi has also enhanced the application of high technology in agriculture. There are 123 high-tech agricultural models in the city, with the value of high-tech farm produce contributing 18 percent.

The national target programme on building new-styled rural areas was initiated by the Government in 2010 with the aim of developing rural regions. It initially had 19 criteria, and the increased to 20 in 2015.

Fisherman support model helps enhance law enforcement at sea

The model “Coast guards support fishermen” has helped the Vietnam Coast Guard and other forces effectively perform patrols and inspections of the law enforcement at sea, heard a press conference in Hanoi on July 3. 

During the event, hosted by the Ministry of Defence, representatives from the High Command of the Vietnam Coast Guard informed participants about prominent achievements made by the force in the fight against smuggling and trade fraud, and gave more details of the model. 

Over the last two decades, the Vietnam Coast Guard has made significant development steps, affirming its role as a specialised and core force in protecting the national security and organising the law enforcement at sea.

Launched in early 2017, “Coast guards support fishermen” is a creative and typical model of the force. It aims to concretise the policy of strengthening, renovating and improving the efficiency of mass mobilisation work of the Party, helping promote economic development in island communes and districts and enhance solidarity between the law enforcement force and people. 

It also encourages fishermen to maintain offshore fishing in traditional fishing grounds, thus contributing to defending the national sea and island sovereignty, and ensuring order and safety in the nation’s waters. 

Regarding the fight against smuggling and trade fraud at sea, the Coast Guard has razed many cases of drug and cigarette smuggling, and counterfeit money transporting in large quantities, contributing to ensuring security and order in the national waters.

Since the beginning of this year, the force has dealt with 39 ships, seizing over 6.8 million tonnes of coal, more than 10 million litres of petrol and oil, nearly 728,000 tonnes of iron ore, over 26,000 packets of cigarettes, 47.4 kg of firecrackers, and others.

Extra efforts needed to address urgent matters

Some people damage motorbikes of Binh Thuan province's Department of Planning and Investment 

Leaders of ministries, sectors and localities stressed the need to tackle the delayed settlement of complaints and denunciations and urgent matters at a national teleconference between the Government and localities on July 2.

Reporting on the country’s socio-economic situation in the first half of 2018, Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung recalled public unrest in several localities during which some were incited to damage the assets of several State agencies.

The Party and State directed localities to carry out appropriate measures to restore order there.

In the remaining months of this year, ministries, sectors and localities should intensify dissemination to make locals understand the Party’s policies and State’s law, and strictly punish instigators, Dung suggested.

Chairman of the People’s Committee of central Binh Thuan province Nguyen Ngoc Hai said that the social disturbance occurred in the locality on June 10-11, affecting social order and safety and security, as well as the peaceful lives of locals.

The case was a lesson for the provincial Party Committee and People’s Committee and the entire political system.

The province pledged to learn from experience, and intensify communications to raise public awareness so they can stay vigilant.

Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh said efforts should be focused on addressing the delayed settlement of complaints and denunciations.

He asked local authorities to hold dialogue with citizens to solve their petitions in a right way.

It is essential for local authorities to clearly explain to people about what they do not know, he said.

Meanwhile, President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee Tran Thanh Man suggested ministries, sectors and localities carry out measures to stop fake news and inaccurate information from spreading.

He stressed the need for intensifying dialogue with people in numerous forms.

Regarding transport projects and build-operate-transfer (BOT) fees, Minister of Transport Nguyen Van The said developing BOT projects is the right policy, as mobilising social resources helps complete the transport infrastructure system.

He expressed his hope that the Ministry of Public Security, other ministries and localities will assist the Transport Ministry and investors in maintaining security and order as disturbances often strike BOT projects.

He also committed to ground clearance work in major transport projects such as North-South Highway, and My Thuan 2 bridge.

Hospitals requested for timely response during heat wave

Heat wave has hit northern localities in the past days. 

The Ministry of Health (MoH) has sent a warning to provincial and city-level health departments, hospitals and health centres about the need to strengthen the monitoring of weather forecasts from the National Meteorological and Hydrological Forecast Centre and the implementation of medical examinations for people.   

The official message was sent on July 3 by the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment under the MoH, in response to the increasing needs for medical examination and treatment of harmful effects during the on-going heat wave in the north.   

The move came as an increasing number of patients have been hospitalised nationwide in recent days due to hot weather.

The Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital in central Nghe An province recorded almost 1,800 children coming for medical checks-up and treatment on July 2 and 3. Most of the cases were diagnosed to suffer from pneumonia, bronchitis, diarrhea and scarlet fever. 

Director of Hanoi’s Dong Da General Hospital Le Hung said the hospital received an average of 700-800 patients for checks-up and treatment each day during the past week, 200 higher than the figure in normal days. Elderly patients accounted for 70 percent of the total, he added.

The message specified that at medical examination centres, hospitals must maintain clear guidelines on the examination process and uphold strict quality criteria.

Hospitals must have sufficient seats and additional fans to ensure ventilation and cooling for patients awaiting medical examinations.

Hospitals also must provide air-conditioners (if available); free drinking water to patients; medical examination desks and improve the process of medical examination and reception to minimize patients’ waiting time.

At hospitals’ treatment departments, depending on the specific financial conditions, the hospitals will install electric fans or air conditioners to ensure patients stay in cool conditions and provide free drinking water for patients.

Hospitals must minimise patient bed-sharing and isolate and control infections to prevent cross-contamination of infectious diseases in hospitals.

The hospitals must be able to supply enough emergency medicine, beds and emergency medical facilities to handle urgent cases caused by the unusual heat wave such as heart disease, brain and stroke.

Hospitals will actively receive patients and treat summer diseases such as dengue fever, foot and mouth disease, meningococcal meningitis and dangerous infectious diseases.

The official letter also stated that in the course of implementation, if any special situation happens, hospitals should report to the Ministry of Health for timely handling.

According to forecasts of the National Hydrological Forecast Centre, this summer, the average temperature in the country has tended to be higher than the average temperature in recent years.

Former knitting company general director prosecuted for fraud

The Police Investigation Agency under the Ministry of Public Security on Monday announced it had launched legal proceedings against Lê Thành Công, former general director of Đông Phương Knitting Company, for “abuse of position and power while on duty”.

The prosecution is part of the second-stage investigation into a corruption case which involved losses of roughly VNĐ1 trillion (US$44.4 million) at the Việt Nam Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development’s Branch No 6.

The agency said it was carrying out the second phase of the investigation into the case of Dương Thanh Cường, former general director of Tấn Phát Investment and Construction Company, and his accomplices for charges of “abusing position, power and trust to appropriate property and cheating to appropriate property” at the bank’s branch No 6 in HCM City.