200,000 Vietnamese suffer from stroke annually

Vietnam has 200,000 people suffer from stroke annually, 11,000 of them died of the disease and the remaining have sequela, according to the Vietnam Stroke Association.

There has been an upward trend in the stroke patients as recorded in Nguyen Trai, Nguyen Tri Phuong, Cho Ray and People 115 hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City, the Sai Gon Giai Phong (Liberated SaiGon) online newspaper reported on April 15.

The proportion of stroke patients increased from 1.7 percent in 2010 to 3 percent in 2013. The rate of male stroke patients is increased almost four-fold their female counterparts.

The Vietnam Stroke Association said that stroke is common in middle-aged and elderly people. People with diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, smokers have a higher risk for strokes.

To prevent stroke, medical experts advised to cure high blood pressure, heart diseases, stop smoking and take herbal medicines as well as have medical check-up every three to six months.

In addition, patients with high risks should realise symptoms such as sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg (especially on one side of the body); sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding speech; sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes; sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination; sudden severe headache with unknown cause.

Perpetrator in Can Tho shooting incident a police officer

The young man who allegedly fired several gunshots from a guesthouse in the southern city of Can Tho on April 16 morning was identified as a police officer, according to local authorities.

During a press conference held this morning, April 16, Can Tho police announced that the man was identified as Tong Hoang Phuc, a police sergeant from unit PC65. Phuc was in charge of protecting the VN2 radio station in Co Do District. Phuc apparently stole an AK-47 rifle from the unit and rented a room at the 555 Guesthouse.

Witnesses said that when Phuc saw a police car from guesthouses roof, he immediately shot at it. All the roads that lead to O Mon District had been blocked. Nguyen Minh Kha, director of the police force in Can Tho city, said Phuc is the only son of a family in O Mon District, so they asked Phuc's parents to try and help persuade him to give himself up.

"When we received the news at 5am, we came immediately. My wife almost fainted. I called him but the calls went unanswered." Phuc's father said.

After a while, Phuc said he would submit if they let him meet his parents.

According to Laodong News, Phuc had gone through a break-up with his girlfriend, and was upset that his attempts to salvage the relationship were unsuccessful. After stealing the gun and renting the room, he called his ex-girlfriend to come for a talk, but she refused.

Phuc then took an employee hostage who had seen the gun in his bag. Two other employees of the guesthouse came to look for their missing colleague and had to flee after Phuc threatened them.

Later, Phuc was captured by the police while talking with his father. Luckily, even though Phuc fired dozens of rounds, no one was injured. Kha said Phuc would be expelled from the police ranks and that they are still investigating the case.

The authorities also found a suicide letter. In the letter, Phuc said he had not been a good son to his parents and hoped to repay all the loving he received in the next life.

Blaze at HCM City chemical plant triggers explosions

A fire engulfed a chemical plant in HCM City, heating pressurized containers of industry, aquaculture, agriculture and food chemicals causing several explosions at around 20:30 on April 16.

After huge explosions rocked the facilities of Tan Hung Thai company in Le Minh Xuan industrial zone, Binh Chanh District the blaze quickly swept throughout the chemical storage areas of the plant, rapidly spread over a 1,000 square metre area.

Local residents and security guards tried in vain to stomp out the flames before emergency rescue forces, including nearly 30 fire engines, arrived on the scene, quickly establishing control of the fire.

Seventeen doctors and nurses of Binh Chanh District Hospital were mobilised to the scene to provide life-saving treatment to the victims.

Colonel Le Tan Buu, Deputy Director of HCM City Fire Prevention Police, said it’s extremely dangerous and difficult to combat the fierce heat and flames due to toxic chemicals and explosive containers in the chemical storage area.

Fifteen firefighters were injured during the rescue, which lasted almost four hours.

At present, rescue forces are on duty round the clock at the scene, while functional agencies are investigating the cause of the incident.

Project cracks down on drink driving

A project to prevent and restrict drink driving, was launched at the Mien Dong (Eastern) Bus Station in Ho Chi Minh City on April 16.

The event was set forth by the Vietnam Road Administration, the municipal Department of Transport and the International Centre for Alcohol Policies (ICAP).

According to Deputy Director of the Department Duong Hong Thanh, the project aims to raise drivers’ awareness of the dangers of driving after they consume beer, wine or other alcoholic substances.

Transport business and their drivers will have to commit to not driving after using alcohol, and they will be fined if violate the regulation, Thanh said.

Nguyen Lan Huong, ICAP Director in Vietnam said the programme is part of a global-scale project which aims to prevent alcohol abuse in high-risk groups, especially drivers.

The pilot model will be deployed in the Central Highland’s province of Dak Lak and central Khanh Hoa province after HCM City – the locality with possibly the most roads and most complex transport network in the country.

Municipal authorities will assist the Ministry of Transport in building plans to prevent and combat the misuse of spirits and beer.

On the occasion, the ICAP presented alcohol meters to the department.-

US bombs defused in Yen Bai Province

Military personnel in the northern province of Yen Bai successfully defused two bombs in Van Yen District yesterday.

The bombs, weighing 450kg and 340kg, are believed to have been dropped by US troops between 1968 and 1970.

They were discovered last month by a group of workers who were expanding a provincial road in Lam Giang Commune and a local family while they were digging land to build foundations for their house in Dong Cuong Commune.

Gyalwang Drukpa book launched in HCM City

Nepalese Buddhist lineage head, Gyalwang Drukpa, introduced his latest book in Ho Chi Minh City during his fifth visit to Vietnam on April 16.

His Holiness Gyalwang Drukpa, who is the twelfth and present incarnation of the Drukpa lineage of Nepal, attended a meeting to publish his book in Vietnamese version “Giác ngộ mỗi ngày” (Everyday Enlightenment).

The book became the world’s bestseller when it was first made public in 2012, and was then translated into many languages, including English, German, French, Italian, and Chinese.

He also participated in a photo exhibition entitled “Yêu thương trong hành động” (Love In Action), displaying 137 photographs and gem paintings on the life and wishes of His Holiness the Gyalwang Drukpa, including His Holiness's various virtuous actions and memorable, moving moments during pilgrimages and visits to various countries around the world.

Child malnutrition treatment named top priority

Vietnam should give top priority to dealing with malnutrition among children – the country’s future, experts advised at a seminar in the central city of Da Nang on April 16.

Participants at the event, co-organised by the National Assembly Standing Committee’s Institute for Legislative Studies and the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), stressed the need to include nutrition examination and consultancy services and special treatment products in the list of things covered by health insurance.

This will be the best measure to provide timely prevention and treatment to all malnourished children in Vietnam, easing burdens caused by the disease and bringing the rate of stunted children under the age of five down to below 23 percent by 2020, they said.

Ass. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Lam, Deputy Director of the National Nutrition Institute, said that the revised Health Insurance Law should feature payments for nutrition examination and consultancy services and special treatment products for ill-nourished children under six.

NA deputy Duong Trung Quoc affirmed that children should have a balanced, suitable and scientific nutrition regime to gain comprehensive physical and intellectual developments.

According to Tong Thi Song Huong, head of the Health Insurance Department under the Health Ministry, the draft revised law makes many amendments and additions to the existing ones, including specific regulations on the responsibilities of communal People’s Committees and health insurance organisations in planning coverage for children under six.

Vietnam ranks 13th in the world in the malnutrition burden with more than 2.5 million under-five underfed children, mainly living in northwestern and Central Highlands regions.-

US Agency’s administrator Hmeets anoi students

Administrator of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Gina McCarthy, held an exchange with the Hanoi University of Natural Resources and Environment in Hanoi on April 16 as part of her working visit to Vietnam.

Gina McCarthy emphasised that everyone needs clean air for better breathing and safe water for drinking. Therefore, people should be aware that it is the community’s responsibility to fight against environmental degradation. At present, climate change has increased epidemics, reduced plant output, caused floods and storms, rising seas levels and natural disasters.

During the exchange, students from the University posed questions and expressed theirconcerns on climate change and environmental pollution.

The guest said that due to its long coastline, Vietnam is hit by typhoons and other forms of natural disaster every year.Inparticular the country is affectedby,climate change and at risk of rising sea levels.

At present, Vietnam and the US are working together to implement a joint project to reduce the impact of climate change in the Mekong River Delta and Red River Delta in Vietnam,with support from the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

McCarthy added that education has played an important role in environmental protection which requires the involvement of the entire community. She expressed her belief that through practical activities, young people will help the planet become cleaner, safer and healthier for future generations.

Pedestrian bridges to ease congestion

Thirteen more pedestrian bridges and tunnels will be built in HCM City to reduce traffic gridlock, at a total cost of VND120 billion (US$5.7 million), the city's Department of Transport has said.

One pedestrian bridge would be built on Dien Bien Phu Street in front of Binh Dan Hospital and a flyover (or tunnel) opposite the Economic Law University in Thu Duc District, according to the economic budgetary committee of the People's Council.

Recently, HCM City has completed construction on six pedestrian bridges, including Cong Quynh, Nguyen Trai, Hoang Van Thu, No Trang Long, Van Thanh and Suoi Tien.

It has also built two tunnels for pedestrians, one in front of Linh Trung Export Processing Zone and another under National Highway 1 and the Nguyen Van Linh roundabout.

Dam not to blame for river accident

Water released from the Ban Chat Hydropower Plant was not the cause of a wave that swept away seven children in Thanh Uyen District in the northern province of Lai Chau on Sunday as rumours, according to the vice chairman of the district's People's Committee, Ha Trong Hai.

Six of them have been rescued, but one remains missing.

This was just an unfortunate accident that happened while the children were crossing the river, he said.

Water released from the plant was conducted in line with regulations and local people had been warned beforehand, he said.

Rescue workers are continuing search operations.

Waste-fuel seized in northern craft village

Police in the northern province of Bac Ninh seized more than 70 tonnes of solid and hazardous waste at Phong Khe craft village in Bac Ninh City.

Local producers used the waste, rather than charcoal, to power their kilns as a means of cutting production costs. According to local producers, replacing charcoal with waste saved VND2.5 million (US$120) each day.

All of the waste was destroyed.

An exchange was organised in Ho Chi Minh City on April 16 for Cambodian students in the city and their local friends to celebrate their country’s Chol Chnam Thmay New Year festival.

Over 150 students from both countries joined the event, which was held by the city’s chapter of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union and the municipal Department of External Relations.

Huynh Van Hong Ngoc, deputy head of the city’s Mass Mobilisation Board, considered each Cambodian student as a “friendship ambassador” bridging the partnership between HCM City and Cambodian localities.

This was the second time such a programme has been held in the city for the Chol Chnam Thmay festivities.-

Vietnam, India intensify research cooperation

The Institute for Foreign Policy and Strategic Studies from Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam (DAV) and India’s Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on promoting bilateral research cooperation.

DAV Director Hoang Anh Tuan and his VIF counterpart Ajit Doval inked the agreement in New Delhi on April 16 in the presence of Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Quang Vinh and Vietnamese Ambassador to India Nguyen Thanh Tan.

Addressing the event, both Tuan and Ajit Doval stressed that the MoU will contribute to fostering bilateral links in research, teaching and workshop arrangement.

Collaboration opportunities will also be sought in the organisation of conferences and seminars, the exchange of information, research materials and programmes, and the implementation of joint research projects, they said.

Deputy FM Vinh hailed the traditional relations between Vietnam and India and said the MoU is the best way to enhance cooperation between the two countries’ research institutes.

A million trees to give City a fresh look

More than VN46 billion (US$2.1million) will be spent this year to plant one million new trees in HCM City to increase green cover and beautify city streets.

The city's green space is shrinking significantly, with just one sq m available per person compared to 1.6 sq m in 2005.

That figure is comparatively low, with Paris, for example, having 11.5 sq m of green space per person, and Santiago, Chile 19 sq m.

The city will plant 400,000 perennial trees on public office grounds and roads in suburban districts, as well as along rivers and canals.

Another 533,300 trees including sao (cassia), bang lang (crape myrtle) apricot and phi lao (beefwood) will be planted at cultural and historic parks and on city streets. At least 350 bang (almond) trees will be planted in school gardens.

The city's Parks and Green Trees Company, in coordination with the municipal Forestry Office, will also plant more than 60,000 perennial trees in Binh Chanh District's Le Minh Xuan village.

The Parks company said the purple colour of the bang lang flowers, which blossom year-round, will add more charm to the city's streets, including District 3's Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street and District 5's Nguyen Trai Street.

Work is underway to improve existing parks and other green spaces.

HCM City has 71,000 trees on streets, but the city's land area for parks this year fell to 700 ha from 1,000ha in 1998, according to the city's Transport Department.

Park acreage has shrunk because of rapid urbanisation and developers' disregard for the city's green-space norms.

The area of Gia Dinh Park in Tan Binh District, for example, was reduced after land was handed over for the construction of the Tan Son Nhat-Binh Loi outer belt road.

In addition, Tan Binh District's Hoang Van Thu Park was divided into two to reduce traffic jams on streets leading to the Tan Son Nhat Airport.

Efforts to increase the city's green space will be more difficult in the future as urban development continues, according to the city's Natural Resources and Environment Department.

84 winners of technical skill contest honored

The 84 winners of the technical skill contest for students in vocational schools were honored on April 15.

The winners along with 55 trainers received certificates of merit. This year’s contest received 219 applicants from vocational facilities in HCMC.

The first and second-prize winners will be selected into a team for the national technical skill contest in May 2014. Winners will qualify to participate in the 10th ASEAN Technical Skill Contest in Vietnam.

22 people poisoned due to Staphylococci, E.coli

22 people in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai were poisoned after eating horse-blood pudding due to presence of Staphylococci and E.coli.

Test result of horse blood pudding showed that Staphylococci and E.coli are present in the dish which is reported to be popular with Hmong and other ethnic farming people in the mountains.

The poisoning cases has announced by the Vietnam Food Administration on April 13. Health authority in Lao Cai Province has taken samples from Cao Quyet Thang’s house for testing. 53 people participated in the party at Thang’s house and 22 of them were poisoned.

Private medical clinics nationwide to be supervised

The Vietnam General Association of Medicine should co-ordinate with the Health Ministry and the Vietnam Fatherland Front to swiftly complete regulations on supervising private medical establishments as the basis for implementing activities nationwide this year.

The request was made by Politburo member and Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan at a workshop that discussed the experience of supervising private medical clinics in Hai Duong province.

Speaking at the event, the VFF chairman said that amidst the rapid rise of private medical clinics across the country, the State management over their operations has encountered many difficulties. To make the sector develop in the right direction, the Vietnam Fatherland Front will participate in monitoring their operations in the coming time, he noted.

VFF Chairman Nhan also appreciated the performance of the Professional Associations of Private Health of Hai Duong, which has made positive contributions to supervising local private medical clinics during the past 13 years. He said that the VFF should learn from such experience to apply to its supervisory activities over medical clinics across the country in the future.

More clean water for rural population in Tay Ninh

The southern province of Tay Ninh has upgraded and put into use five plants supplying clean water for poor people in rural and border areas.

The systems, which will benefit some 3,000 households, are operational in hamlets of Chau Thanh, Hoa Thanh, Tan Chau, and Tan Bien districts.

Between 2013 and 2014, local authorities have approved over 19 trillion VND (893 million USD) for improving 12 similar projects.

They are striving to upgrade the remaining seven in communes of Ben Cau, Chau Thanh, Trang Bang and Tan Chau districts by the end of this year, said Director of the provincial Center for Clean Water and Environmental Sanitation Dinh Hung Danh.

The locality has built 76 such facilities with a combined capacity of 8,869 cubic meters per day, benefiting more than 19,400 farmers.

The amount of clean water is expected to be increased to 168,000 cubic meters per month at the year-end from the current 125,000.-

Tien Giang moves to develop trade villages

The Mekong Delta province of Tien Giang is striving to preserve its trade villages serving the purpose of developing tourism as a major driver of its economy.

This year, it will focus on building new waste treatment systems at trade villages with a high risk of pollution and upgrading infrastructure in rural areas.

It will enable production facilities to boost goods exchanges with other localities nationwide in order to solve unemployment and increase the income of locals.

In its long-term strategy, Tien Giang will organise training courses to raise the capacity of managing officials and labourers, and apply technologies to production.

In 2016-2020, it will spend nearly 300 billion VND (14.1 million USD) preserving and developing trade villages and another 200 billion VND (9.4 million USD) on management training courses and the teaching of vocational skills for labourers.

The province has 14 trade villages, including five traditional ones, mainly in Chau Thanh, Cai Be, Cho Gao, Cai Lay and Go Cong Tay districts. The trades, including carving, knitting and girdle cake making (banh trang), now create job for nearly 5,400 locals.

Da Nang city urged to boost software industry

The central city of Da Nang is seeing an increasing number of groups and companies from the USA, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Singapore and other countries around the world seeking investment opportunities in its software outsourcing, and hi-tech and support industries , the Da Nang Today reported.

However, the city’s software industry is facing some difficulties, especially a shortage of human resources, operating capital, and consumer markets.

Representatives from many of the local software companies have expressed their desire that the city’s authorities give top priority to boosting information technology (IT) and applications, with a focus on improving the IT infrastructure. This will facilitate local software companies to enhance their software outsourcing and export activities.

In addition, special attention should be paid to making plans to implement more IT application programmes to help the local software businesses expand their consumer markets. T his will create the opportunity for these companies to develop more software products, as well as major IT solutions.

With regard to its plans to develop the industry in the future, a focus will be on constructing more software parks and dedicated IT zones, as well as issuing more preferential policies to attract foreign direct investment in these IT hubs. Also, support will be given to local software businesses to help them build their brand names, expand their consumer markets, and publicise their products.

Special attention will also be paid to promoting the development of software and electronic circuit sectors and other related aspects.These measures, along with the strong determination of the city’s leaders, are expected to help local software businesses deal with their difficulties as well as create a momentum for their future sustainable growth.

Last year, Da Nang’s software businesses earned a total of around 25 million USD from the export of software, representing a 23.8% year on year increase.-

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