EVN launches programme to save energy

The Ha Noi Department of Industry and Trade, working with Electricity of Viet Nam (EVN), yesterday launched a promotion to conserve electrical energy on hot days this summer.

EVN hopes to encourage at least 60,000 households to take part in the programme to use energy more efficiently and reduce their overall energy consumption.

The programme also aims to raise awareness of energy-saving solutions and maintain and improve residents' habits of conserving energy.

Dao Hong Thai, director of Ha Noi energy-saving centre, said energy consumption last year accounted for 53 per cent of the total energy capacity of the whole city.

Conservation efforts by individuals and families would help reduce power consumption, Thai stated.

EVN's statistics show that the whole country would save 241,000kWh of electricity for every hour that the power stays off.

Last year, the city saved 32kWh of electricity, worth some VND50 billion (US$2,3 million), an EVN official said.

With a combination of similar programmes, the city expects to save 35 million kWh of power this year.

Over the past few days, daily power consumption has increased sharply due to the hot weather, placing pressure on the availability of power in the near future if energy-saving solutions are not adopted.

Kingdom of Garlic dries up

Prolonged hot weather is killing garlic crops on the island of Ly Son off central Quang Ngai Province.

There has hardly been any rain this year on the island, known as the Kingdom of Garlic. So much underground water has been used that the water table has largely dried up.

Le Thanh Trung, 54, a resident of Dong Village in An Vinh Commune on the island, said that his family had four sao (one sao = 500sq.m. In northern Viet Nam, a sao is smaller 360sq.m) of arable land that he uses to grow garlic.

However, Trung told Tien Phong (Vanguard) newspaper that the failure of a previous garlic crop had driven him to plant shallots.

Still, only a dozen days from harvesting, even the shallots are in desperate need of a drink. "If there is not enough water to irrigate, the crop will waste away," Trung said.

Farmers have to buy water at a cost of VND160,000 - 300,000 (US$8 -15) from people who have tapped into underground supplies.

But having money doesn't necessarily mean that water will come immediately. Sometimes, farmers have to wait from dawn to dust to be served.

As it is hot during the day, water pumping usually starts after the sun sets.

In the fields, the buzz of pumps can be heard from 7pm till 5am as farmers hold hoses to water throughout the night.

Huynh Van Toi, 34, living in Tay Village, An Vinh Commune, said sometimes he had to wait till near dawn for his turn to get water.

He said he has already spent several million dong (several hundred dollars) buying pumped water.

Toi said if the heat wave continued, he dared not plant anything more. To tap into underground supplies, farmers have spent hundreds of millions of dong digging and boring wells.

Nguyen Quang, 35, a Thon Tay villager, said although his family had three wells in use, they had decided to spend VND150 million ($7,500) digging a bigger well.

Quang said he was well aware that digging many wells would do harm to the water table, but he said farmers on the island had no choice.

Pham Thi Huong, vice chairwoman of Ly Son District People's Committee, said farmers had been told to use water efficiently and switch to crops that were drought-tolerant.

Authorities have also been told to supervise the digging of wells to keep underground water fresh and stop it becoming salty.

Phan Nhu Tuong, chairman of Tam Hai Commune, said the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment had agreed to invest in a water supply system for islanders next year.

The online newspaper Vnexpress reported that the number of wells and bores on the island had increased from 550 last year to 1,300 this year.

Course for lab experts attracts 500

Nearly 500 laboratory technicians on Saturday attended a seventh Chemical Pathology Course in HCM City to improve their technical skills and update medical knowledge.

The course focused on the role of diagnosis in kidney and common diseases.

The course was organised by Roche Diagnostics Viet Nam and the Viet Nam Association of Clinical Biochemistry.

Another course will be held in Ha Noi tomorrow.

Promoting Vietnam-Russia education links discussed

Modern teaching methods of the Russian language and solutions to promote education cooperation between Vietnam and Russia were discussed at a round-table conference in Hanoi on June 5.

Co-organised by the Russian Centre of Science and Culture (RCSC) and the Pushkin Sub-institute in Hanoi, the event was part of activities to celebrate the Russian Day.

Speaking at the conference, RCSC Director Elena Zubtsova thanked linguists and teachers working at high schools and universities in Vietnam to attract the attention of Vietnamese youth to the Russian language and culture.

She expressed her hope that, with efforts made by linguists in Vietnam alongside close and effective cooperation between the centre and Russian universities, the teaching of Russian would be developed in the coming time. On the occasion, the centre presented certificates of merit to Vietnamese high schools and universities that participated in activities celebrating the Russian Day.

The same day, a exhibition “Pushkin in Vietnam” kicked off, displaying works by the great Russian poet A.X. Pushkin, as translated into Vietnamese.

Vietnam Fatherland Front active in new rural development

The Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF), an umbrella group of the country’s public organisations, convened a conference in the central province of Quang Ngai on June 5 to share its experience in new rural development.

Representatives from VFF chapters in 10 central and Central Highlands provinces heard effective methods to engage rural locals in the campaign and the drive “All people are united to build cultural life in residential areas”.

Apart from a State budget allocation of over 5.2 trillion VND (247.6 million USD), localities nationwide raised more than 157.8 trillion VND (7.5 billion USD) for the cause, over 18 trillion VND (857 million USD) of which was sourced from the public, or 11.45 percent.

The VFF chapter of the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai raised about 450 billion VND (21.4 million USD) and 26,700 square metres of land to build gardens and roads, install street lights and dredge irrigational canals.

In the central province of Ha Tinh, the VFF chapter involved the public community in donations for infrastructure upgrades in schools, medical stations, cultural and sport areas and the elimination of more than 13,200 temporary shelters.

The central province of Thua Thien-Hue has raised over 315 billion VND (15 million USD), or 6.7 percent, for its rural reconstruction campaign and offered interest-free loans to farmers.

Participants also proposed solutions to existing hindrances at the event.

Building infrastructure, improving production capacity, building public works, protecting the landscape and environment and promoting local traditions and cultural identities are among the criteria on building new-style rural areas initiated by the Government in 2010.

Son La, Lai Chau almost complete resettlement for power plants

A delegation from the Steering Committee for the Northwest Region recently met with authorities from northern mountainous Lai Chau and Son La provinces to discuss the outcomes of the two’s respective resettlement programmes.

In recent years, over 20,000 households in Dien Bien, Son La and Lai Chau have needed to be relocated to make way for the construction of the 2,400-megawatt Son La Hydropower Plant, the largest of its kind in Southeast Asia.

The plant, situated in It Ong commune, Muong La district, Son La, officially commenced operations on December 23, 2012 after seven years of construction. It supplies an average 10.2 billion kilowatt hours each year to the national grid.

To make room for Son La, Huoi Quang and Ban Chat hydropower plants, a total of 44,647 people in Lai Chau have to migrate to 34 new areas established to accommodate them. Provincial authorities have so far implemented the resettlement project on schedule, with locals receiving compensation, basic infrastructure and small business set ups in relocated areas, among other amenities.

According to Trang Thi Xuan, Vice Chairwoman of the Son La People’s Committee, the province has safely moved 12,584 households from flooded areas near the Son La plant and handed over 99.9 percent of land allocated for those resettling families. The transitioned households have access to clean water and connections to the national grid.

In resettled areas, Son La has invested more than 6.4 trillion VND (298 million USD) to put 2,022 infrastructure projects into operation and spent over 47 billion VND (2.19 million USD) to create local livelihoods.

Nguyen Canh Viet, Deputy Head of the Steering Committee, spoke highly of the two provinces’ relocation efforts and noted that they should continue to increase the living standards of the newly formed communities.

Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen Van Suu met with visiting Ulaanbaatar Vice Mayor S. Ochirbat on June 5, emphasising the Vietnamese side’s willingness to cooperate with the Mongolian capital city.

The host official said Hanoi is willing to assist and share its development experience with Ulaanbaatar.

He also hoped Mongolia will exchange relevant expertise to assist the Vietnamese capital to remove shortcomings in the course of its development.

Following the working session, Vice Mayor S. Ochirbat visited a project run by VinGroup – a leading property developer of Vietnam.

He expressed his admiration for the growth of Hanoi, adding that Ulaanbaatar wants to learn more from Hanoi’s experience in urban planning and development to promote modernity without damaging the environment.

Ozone invention wins national science innovation award

The creative invention “Application of advanced materials in manufacturing ozone generators for the health protection of the community” has won first prize in the 2014 Vietnam Science and Technology Innovation Awards.

The project, designed by the HCT Hi-tech Investment and Application JSC, also claimed a silver prize at the 2015 international exhibition of the Korea Women Investors Association in recognition of its efficient decontamination.

Each year, the company sells 8,000 ozone generators made by domestic technicians ensuring cleaner and safer food and water.

The establishment of distribution and warranty systems have generated jobs for about 400 workers.

Director General of the company Tran Thi La Huong said a number of measures were proposed and applied during the designation, production and upgrade process to ensure the utmost efficiency and longevity of the ozone generators.

Vietnam helps Laos in human resource training

A school funded by central Thanh Hoa province was handed over to Houaphan province on June 5 to support the Lao locality in human resource training.

The Politics and Administration School, located in north village, Viengxay district, covers three hectares with 11 facilities, including classroom and hall buildings, a library and a dormitory. It also features a 6.9m high bronze statue of late President Kaysone Phomvihane in its campus.

The school has a total investment 104 billion VND (4.8 million USD).

Addressing the event, Trinh Van Chien, Secretary of the Thanh Hoa Party’s Committee, said the school is expected to contribute to Houaphan’s training work, thus promoting the local socio-economic development and security.

Secretary of the provincial Party Committee and Governor of Houaphan province Khamhung Huengvongsy highlighted the importance of the school in the province’s personnel development.-

HCM City to host Dengue Fever Day

Activities for the annual ASEAN Dengue Day will be held in Ho Chi Minh City on June 14.

Organised by the Ministry of Health, the day's events are expected to attract 3,000 attendees.

ASEAN Dengue Day is an advocacy event agreed upon during the 10th ASEAN Health Ministers Meeting in 2010.

Since 2005, dengue fever has become one of the most important public health problems receiving international attention, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The Asia Pacific region bears 75 percent of the global burden. In the Western Pacific region, 31 out of 37 countries and areas have reported dengue fever cases in the past two decades.

In the world, an estimated 50-100 million cases are reported each year.

In May, the city recorded 394 cases, a drop of 23 percent against April.

However, since the beginning of the year, the total number of cases increased by 1,327 compared to the same period of last year. A total of 4,532 cases have been reported.

In the first five months of the year, the southern region saw a 29 percent increase in dengue fever cases.

The capital city Hanoi has reported 104 dengue fever cases since the beginning of this year, an increase of 62 cases compared with last year.

However, no casualties were reported so far, according to the Hanoi steering committee on disease prevention and control. The patients came from 19 of 30 districts in the city.

Nguyen Nhat Cam, director of the Hanoi Preventive Medicine Centre, said the number of cases has been forecast to increase in the following months and reach the highest in October and November, the disease season.

Meeting to mark ASEAN dengue day in Hanoi

A meeting was held on June 6 in Tan Trieu village, Thanh Tri district, Hanoi, to mark the ASEAN Dengue Day (June 15).

Addressing the event, Director of the Municipal Department of Health Nguyen Khac Hien urged localities to take drastic measures against dengue, helping promptly address outbreaks and minimise fatalities.

He also called on local communities to keep their surroundings clean, while focusing on killing mosquitoes and their larva inside and near their areas.

In 2015, more than 500 environment cleaning campaigns will be conducted in all communes, wards and residential areas across the city to prevent dengue.

For the first five months of this year, Vietnam has recorded nearly 11,400 dengue fever cases, with 10 fatal cases. Hanoi alone has reported 83 infected cases, up 60 percent from the same period last year.

Dengue has occurred in more than 100 countries and territories worldwide over the past 50 years.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), 50-100 million cases are estimated each year.

More Vietnamese young patients suffer stroke

According to the Vietnam Stroke Association, the country has more than 200,000 fresh cases each year including 11,000 fatalities.

Those who nearly escaped from death because of stroke suffer malformation. By statistics,every 45 seconds, the world has one person suffer stroke and every 3 minutes, one dies of the disease. The disease is affecting around 20 percent of the whole world population.

The most surprising is that more Vietnamese young people suffer stroke nowadays.

Currently the People's Hospital No.115 is treating over 200 stroke inpatients and 10 percent of them are young people under 40.  Meantime, Dr. Nguyen Duc Vu from Nhan Dan Gia Dinh ( Gia Dinh People's ) Hospital said that in March the hospital treated 134 serious stroke inpatients and in first weeks of April, 2015, the hospital has treated nearly 100 patients.

And more young persons suffer the disease, added Dr. Vu.

Medical experts said that the rate of young people suffering stroke increased from 1.7 percent to 3 percent and the rate of male patients is four- fold higher than that of the female.

To prevent the disease, doctors advised people to treat high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, heart diseases, stop smoking and scheduled medical check-up evvery 3 or 6 months.

Doctors warned people to save the gold time- 3 first hours after the stroke - to rescue patients. In the golden hours, every minute passes, 2 million brain cells die. Accordingly, after three hours, the brain will damage totally and doctors also can not save patients.

International workshop on sea-related issues in Quang Ninh

Asian and European scholars shared their approaches to territorial disputes and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas (UNCLOS) during a June 4-5 workshop in the northern province of Quang Ninh.

Over 140 delegates, including nearly 30 foreign and domestic law experts, heard 20 reports and 60 different opinions regarding the UNCLOS terms, legal regulations of waters and entities above them, and measures to strengthen maritime security in Asia, including anti-piracy, search and rescue, increased awareness of navigation and information sharing.

European guests shared their experiences in shaping maritime co-operation policies, fisheries management models and environment protection.

Participants also discussed how to settle disputes through diplomatic means and jurisdictions.

They shared the view that any action to build or expand shoals into artificial islands is lawful only when it is done within a country’s own exclusive economic zone and continental shelf or in waters beyond the jurisdiction of all countries.

On maritime security in Asia, the EU side vowed to share its experience with Asia and Southeast Asian countries in particular to ensure maritime security and safety, considering that non-traditional security threats from piracy and armed robbery are undermining strategic sea routes in the region.

Regarding maritime management co-operation, attendees said parties concerned should foster trust building in marine studies, search-and-rescue, and protection of sea environment.

They also underscored the need to settle disputes by peaceful means, including face-to-face negotiations in courts or tribunals.

With respect to the current situation, it is crucial to follow international dispute settlement mechanisms, including the UNCLOS while pushing for the early consensus on a legally binding Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC), they said.

The workshop was co-hosted by the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam and the EU Delegation to Vietnam.