HCM CITY — Dengue fever is on the rise in the Mekong River Delta as the rainy season continues, according to health officials.
Over the last two months, more than 10,000 dengue fever cases were reported in the region, including two fatalities.
In Dong Thap Province, 2,000 people are currently suffering from dengue fever.
The emergency division of Tam Nong District’s hospital has received 157 dengue fever patients since the beginning of the rainy season.
Nguyen Kim Thinh, deputy director of Tam Nong District’s Preventive Medicine Centre, said the number of dengue fever patients had increased severalfold compared with the same period last year.
Thinh said there were also some serious cases that needed to be tranferred to city-level hospitals for treatment.
Most patients under treatment at the district’s hospital were children under 15 years old.
She attributed the growing dengue fever cases to the public’s lack of awareness about preventing the disease.
The health sector in the Mekong River Delta is strongly advocating preventive measures, including the spraying of mosquito repellents in densely populated districts and waterlogged areas in communes.
Local health workers have been sent to rural areas to disseminate information on sanitation methods, dredging of canals and culverts, and the use of mosquito nets.
In Tien Giang and An Giang provinces, 2,000 people have been struck by dengue fever.
The director of Tien Giang Province’s General Hospital, Hoang Tho Man, said the Mekong Delta this year was facing a high risk of a widespread outbreak of dengue fever.
He aslo called for prompt measures to effectively fight and prevent an epidemic in the rainy season.
Dengue fever patients whose high fever has not abated within a day should go to a hospital and not stay at home, health officials said. — VNS
Monday, June 11, 2007
Programme opens eyes to plight of AIDS victims
NINH BINH — Many men from Kim Son District, in the northern province of Ninh Binh, are migratory workers. It is the stress of having to leave their communities to find work that is being blamed for the relatively high incidence of HIV/AIDS infection in the region.
To increase understanding about the disease the Vietnamese and Canadian rehabilitation associations joined forces to set up HIV/AIDS-awareness programmes in An Hoa Commune and Phat Diem Town.
Vu Van Kiem from Kim Son’s People’s Committee says when HIV-infected migrant workers return home they often pass on the disease to their wives.
"The highest risk of catching the disease comes from those who have moved away from home to earn a living. When they come back to their hometown, they infect their wives."
One HIV sufferer (who prefers to remain anonymous) used to work as an electrician in his local commune. However, he was forced to move away from home to find better-paid work. It was then that he started taking drugs, which he was introduced to by his landlord. And it was through using a dirty needle that he contracted HIV.
Since 1995 there have been 396 HIV patients in Kim Son. Of those, 18 have developed full-blown AIDS and 83 have died.
He says a lack of understanding about the disease is aggravating the problem.
"Although I haven’t made it public that I have HIV, people talk about me behind my back and avoid coming into contact with me. They even avoid sitting down with me to have a drink or a meal. Even my wife, children and relatives ignore me," he says, adding that villagers have also asked kindergartens not to accept his children.
It is the fear that his children won’t be able to attend school that another HIV sufferer, who also wishes to remain anonymous, has kept his disease secret. And it’s not just ill-informed and frightened villagers that shun him.
"It’s not just villagers but local officials like the head of the women’s association, the commune’s People’s Committee - even medical staff discriminate against us," he says.
And the discrimination doesn’t end with death - even some cemeteries are refusing to accept those who have died of AIDS.
In an effort to reduce the discrimination against HIV/AIDS sufferers the Vietnamese rehabilitation association and the Canadian rehabilitation association launched its HIV/AIDS-awareness campaign that involves dropping leaflets through doors, running training courses, and holding public meetings. As a result, knowledge about the devastating disease has improved markedly.
Family members are now willing to look after HIV sufferers, without fear of catching the disease. HIV patients have even set up two social clubs - "Love and Responsibility" in Phat Diem town and "Consulting Care" in An Hoa Commune. The two clubs now have a combined membership of 47. HIV sufferers come to share their feelings, making their lives, if not happy, then at least less miserable and lonely. — VNS
To increase understanding about the disease the Vietnamese and Canadian rehabilitation associations joined forces to set up HIV/AIDS-awareness programmes in An Hoa Commune and Phat Diem Town.
Vu Van Kiem from Kim Son’s People’s Committee says when HIV-infected migrant workers return home they often pass on the disease to their wives.
"The highest risk of catching the disease comes from those who have moved away from home to earn a living. When they come back to their hometown, they infect their wives."
One HIV sufferer (who prefers to remain anonymous) used to work as an electrician in his local commune. However, he was forced to move away from home to find better-paid work. It was then that he started taking drugs, which he was introduced to by his landlord. And it was through using a dirty needle that he contracted HIV.
Since 1995 there have been 396 HIV patients in Kim Son. Of those, 18 have developed full-blown AIDS and 83 have died.
He says a lack of understanding about the disease is aggravating the problem.
"Although I haven’t made it public that I have HIV, people talk about me behind my back and avoid coming into contact with me. They even avoid sitting down with me to have a drink or a meal. Even my wife, children and relatives ignore me," he says, adding that villagers have also asked kindergartens not to accept his children.
It is the fear that his children won’t be able to attend school that another HIV sufferer, who also wishes to remain anonymous, has kept his disease secret. And it’s not just ill-informed and frightened villagers that shun him.
"It’s not just villagers but local officials like the head of the women’s association, the commune’s People’s Committee - even medical staff discriminate against us," he says.
And the discrimination doesn’t end with death - even some cemeteries are refusing to accept those who have died of AIDS.
In an effort to reduce the discrimination against HIV/AIDS sufferers the Vietnamese rehabilitation association and the Canadian rehabilitation association launched its HIV/AIDS-awareness campaign that involves dropping leaflets through doors, running training courses, and holding public meetings. As a result, knowledge about the devastating disease has improved markedly.
Family members are now willing to look after HIV sufferers, without fear of catching the disease. HIV patients have even set up two social clubs - "Love and Responsibility" in Phat Diem town and "Consulting Care" in An Hoa Commune. The two clubs now have a combined membership of 47. HIV sufferers come to share their feelings, making their lives, if not happy, then at least less miserable and lonely. — VNS
Nation’s largest cooking oil facility opens in HCM City
HCM CITY — Cai Lan Oils & Fats Industrial Co. (Calofic) opened the country’s largest cooking oil processing plant in HCM City last Saturday at a cost of US$34 million.
The plant in Hiep Phuoc Industrial Park, which can produce 600 metric tonnes of refined oils a day, is the Quang Ninh Province-based company’s third in the country.
Do Ngoc Hai, general director of Vocarimex - the local partner of Cai Lan joint venture company, said the new facility took Calofic’s total production to 1,150 tonnes per day.
"The new factory hopes to meet the rising demand for cooking oil in the local market, especially in the south, as well as overseas markets like Cambodia, China, Japan, Laos, and South Korea," said Hai.
Established in 1996, Calofic is a 68/32 joint venture between Siteki Investment Pte. Ltd., a subsidiary of Kuok Oils & Grain Ltd. of Singapore, and the Ministry of Industry’s Viet Nam Vegetable Oils, Aromas and Cosmetics Corp. (Vocarimex).
Hai added Calofic’s investment in Viet Nam had risen to $83.4 million since it opened its first plant 11 years ago.
Speaking at the inauguration last Saturday Deputy Minister of Industry Chau Hue Cam said the company had a 35 per cent share in the country’s cooking oil market last year.
She said Cai Lan’s three cooking oil factories in Quang Ninh, Can Tho, and HCM City provided more than 900 jobs. — VNS
The plant in Hiep Phuoc Industrial Park, which can produce 600 metric tonnes of refined oils a day, is the Quang Ninh Province-based company’s third in the country.
Do Ngoc Hai, general director of Vocarimex - the local partner of Cai Lan joint venture company, said the new facility took Calofic’s total production to 1,150 tonnes per day.
"The new factory hopes to meet the rising demand for cooking oil in the local market, especially in the south, as well as overseas markets like Cambodia, China, Japan, Laos, and South Korea," said Hai.
Established in 1996, Calofic is a 68/32 joint venture between Siteki Investment Pte. Ltd., a subsidiary of Kuok Oils & Grain Ltd. of Singapore, and the Ministry of Industry’s Viet Nam Vegetable Oils, Aromas and Cosmetics Corp. (Vocarimex).
Hai added Calofic’s investment in Viet Nam had risen to $83.4 million since it opened its first plant 11 years ago.
Speaking at the inauguration last Saturday Deputy Minister of Industry Chau Hue Cam said the company had a 35 per cent share in the country’s cooking oil market last year.
She said Cai Lan’s three cooking oil factories in Quang Ninh, Can Tho, and HCM City provided more than 900 jobs. — VNS
PM Dung calls for action to speed up capital disbursements
HA Noi — Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung said yesterday he appreciated the country’s efforts in reaching a gross domestic product growth rate of 8 per cent during the first five months of the year.
But Dung said many projects were progressing slowly because of shortcomings in management, especially complicated administrative procedures that have hindered investors.
He presided over a conference to review the implementation of investment plans during the first half of the year and ways to implement plans for the last six months.
Cumbersome mechanisms, disparate guidelines from ministries and regional governments, weak consultation regimes and slow site clearance all hampered investment, he said.
The PM asked ministries and business leaders to find solutions to construction delays, especially for key projects.
He asked the Ministry of Finance to review capital sources, State bonds and development aid to assure money for construction.
He also asked the Ministry of Planning and Investment to work out mechanisms for investors and strengthen its management of basic construction projects.
According to the ministry, total social spending in the first six months of this year rose to VND195 trillion, accounting for 43 per cent of yearly targets and 38.4 per cent of GDP. Of this figure, the State budget accounted for VND42.4 trillion and capital from credit sources was VND10.3 trillion.
Record investment
Viet Nam posted a record US$5.2 billion in foreign investment during the first five months of this year, according to the Government’s website.
The country also recorded a growth rate of more than 30 per cent in fields like capital investment, exports and tax collection.
According to economists, the Government’s decision to open ‘sensitive’ sectors, including seafood, garments and electronics import and export, to foreign investors helped drive the boom.
More than 400 foreign investment projects have been licensed in the first half of this year, including several in poorer regions such as Thai Nguyen, Ha Giang, Cao Bang and Son La.
During the first five months of 2007, foreigners also invested $2.1 billion to build workshops and equip new facilities, an increase of 30 per cent compared to the same period of last year.
The Ministry of Planning and Investment is to ask the Prime Minister to issue an instruction on attracting foreign investment and issue a call for domestic investment capital for 2006-10.
Oil and gas deadlines
Dung has urged Technip, the general contractor of the Dung Quat Oil Refinery plant, to do everything possible to ensure the plant starts operation in February, 2009.
The PM also instructed various ministries, agencies and contractors to implement various projects and ensure that the country’s key oil and gas projects finish on time in Government Office Official Letter, No 2999/VNCP-DK.
Technip needs to co-ordinate with the project management consultants to monitor closely the manufacture and installation of equipment for the oil refinery plant in accordance with the required standards, including the country of origin of the equipment. They should provide the design blueprints to the Vietnamese sub-contractors as soon as possible, so they can keep up with their deadlines.
The winning contractors of packages 5A and 5B must discuss and co-ordinate their projects so that construction is completed with minimum inflation to their approved budget.
The COMA contractor are to organise the bid for Engineering Procurement Construction Contract (EPC) No 7 as soon as possible, procure the necessary equipment as well as complete its contracts.
Vietsovpetro contractor must complete the equipment installation as soon as possible at Ca Mau gas fired electricity and fertiliser project, so that it will begin generating electricity from December 2007.
Finally the Prime Minister asked the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs to consider and approve a proposal to grant bonuses, equivalent to half a month salary, to employees working at the Dung Quat Oil Refinery Plant. — VNS
But Dung said many projects were progressing slowly because of shortcomings in management, especially complicated administrative procedures that have hindered investors.
He presided over a conference to review the implementation of investment plans during the first half of the year and ways to implement plans for the last six months.
Cumbersome mechanisms, disparate guidelines from ministries and regional governments, weak consultation regimes and slow site clearance all hampered investment, he said.
The PM asked ministries and business leaders to find solutions to construction delays, especially for key projects.
He asked the Ministry of Finance to review capital sources, State bonds and development aid to assure money for construction.
He also asked the Ministry of Planning and Investment to work out mechanisms for investors and strengthen its management of basic construction projects.
According to the ministry, total social spending in the first six months of this year rose to VND195 trillion, accounting for 43 per cent of yearly targets and 38.4 per cent of GDP. Of this figure, the State budget accounted for VND42.4 trillion and capital from credit sources was VND10.3 trillion.
Record investment
Viet Nam posted a record US$5.2 billion in foreign investment during the first five months of this year, according to the Government’s website.
The country also recorded a growth rate of more than 30 per cent in fields like capital investment, exports and tax collection.
According to economists, the Government’s decision to open ‘sensitive’ sectors, including seafood, garments and electronics import and export, to foreign investors helped drive the boom.
More than 400 foreign investment projects have been licensed in the first half of this year, including several in poorer regions such as Thai Nguyen, Ha Giang, Cao Bang and Son La.
During the first five months of 2007, foreigners also invested $2.1 billion to build workshops and equip new facilities, an increase of 30 per cent compared to the same period of last year.
The Ministry of Planning and Investment is to ask the Prime Minister to issue an instruction on attracting foreign investment and issue a call for domestic investment capital for 2006-10.
Oil and gas deadlines
Dung has urged Technip, the general contractor of the Dung Quat Oil Refinery plant, to do everything possible to ensure the plant starts operation in February, 2009.
The PM also instructed various ministries, agencies and contractors to implement various projects and ensure that the country’s key oil and gas projects finish on time in Government Office Official Letter, No 2999/VNCP-DK.
Technip needs to co-ordinate with the project management consultants to monitor closely the manufacture and installation of equipment for the oil refinery plant in accordance with the required standards, including the country of origin of the equipment. They should provide the design blueprints to the Vietnamese sub-contractors as soon as possible, so they can keep up with their deadlines.
The winning contractors of packages 5A and 5B must discuss and co-ordinate their projects so that construction is completed with minimum inflation to their approved budget.
The COMA contractor are to organise the bid for Engineering Procurement Construction Contract (EPC) No 7 as soon as possible, procure the necessary equipment as well as complete its contracts.
Vietsovpetro contractor must complete the equipment installation as soon as possible at Ca Mau gas fired electricity and fertiliser project, so that it will begin generating electricity from December 2007.
Finally the Prime Minister asked the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs to consider and approve a proposal to grant bonuses, equivalent to half a month salary, to employees working at the Dung Quat Oil Refinery Plant. — VNS
Friday, June 1, 2007
Centre to nurture cinematic talent with free courses
HA NOI — The Centre for Assistance and Development of Movie Talents has invited people under 40 years of age to enrol in a training course for producing short films. There will be no cost.
Under the one-year project, learners, who must have a passion for movie making, will be taught about script and film editing, directing and the value of a good soundtrack.
Candidates can apply until June 30. They should enclose a curriculum vitae and a well prepared outline of a movie or script covering no more than 15 minutes.
Students from distant provinces will receive food allowances and travel expenses to enable them to complete the course in Ha Noi.
Under the sponsorship of the Ford Foundation, the centre will also provide financial support for students to produce 10 short films. The best films will be presented at national and international film festivals.
Students at previous courses, earned seven prizes at national short-film festivals in 2003 and 2005. The winning movies were screened at the Cannes, Clemond Ferrant (France) and Pusan (South Korea) film festivals. — VNS
Military ties with China key to peace: president
HA NOI — President Nguyen Minh Triet yesterday expressed delight over friendly relations between the Vietnamese and Chinese armies at a meeting with visiting Senior Lieutenant General Liang Guanglie, chief of the General Staff of the People’s Liberation Army.
During talks, Triet said he was pleased with the traditional friendly relations between the two Parties, Governments and peoples.
"Such development is suitable to the interests of the two peoples, and profitable for peace, stability and development in the region and world," he said.
Triet applauded the outcome of the meeting between the two countries’ armies. He said the delegation’s visit would contribute to Sino-Vietnamese relations in accordance with the 16 word motto and the four good spirits agreed upon by the two countries’ leaders.
He emphasised that Viet Nam was pursuing a foreign policy of independence, self-reliance and openness, under which the country attached much importance in working with China to strengthen relations between the two Parties, Governments and peoples.
Triet said the most important thing that the two Parties, Governments, peoples, and armies needed to do was to build trust and co-operate for mutual development.
Senior Lieutenant General Liang said relations between the two armies were an integral part in ties between the two Parties, Governments and peoples.
As a result, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army attached great importance in co-operating with the Viet Nam People’s Army, said Liang.
Based on agreements with Viet Nam’s Ministry of National Defence, the two armies would implement practical co-operation programmes to meet the demands in creating an invaluable relationship, said Liang.
Two armies talk
Lieutenant General Nguyen Khac Nghien, chief of the General Staff of the Viet Nam People’s Army, also received Senior Lieutenant General Liang yesterday.
Nghien told Liang that his visit strengthened solidarity and co-operation between the two peoples and armies according to the "Friendly neighbourliness, comprehensive co-operation, durable stability and future oriented vision" guidelines, and the four good spirits of "Good neighbourliness, good comradeship, good friendship and good partnership". Liang thanked Nghien and other Vietnamese officers for a solemn and friendly reception for the Chinese delegation.
The two sides exchanged experiences in military development, and pledged to continue exchanging military delegations, co-ordinate sea patrol efforts and other issues of common concern for peace and stability in the region and world.
Earlier, Liang and his delegation laid a wreath and paid tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at his mausoleum.
He also paid a courtesy visit to the National Defence Minister, Senior Lieutenant General Phung Quang Thanh. — VNS
During talks, Triet said he was pleased with the traditional friendly relations between the two Parties, Governments and peoples.
"Such development is suitable to the interests of the two peoples, and profitable for peace, stability and development in the region and world," he said.
Triet applauded the outcome of the meeting between the two countries’ armies. He said the delegation’s visit would contribute to Sino-Vietnamese relations in accordance with the 16 word motto and the four good spirits agreed upon by the two countries’ leaders.
He emphasised that Viet Nam was pursuing a foreign policy of independence, self-reliance and openness, under which the country attached much importance in working with China to strengthen relations between the two Parties, Governments and peoples.
Triet said the most important thing that the two Parties, Governments, peoples, and armies needed to do was to build trust and co-operate for mutual development.
Senior Lieutenant General Liang said relations between the two armies were an integral part in ties between the two Parties, Governments and peoples.
As a result, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army attached great importance in co-operating with the Viet Nam People’s Army, said Liang.
Based on agreements with Viet Nam’s Ministry of National Defence, the two armies would implement practical co-operation programmes to meet the demands in creating an invaluable relationship, said Liang.
Two armies talk
Lieutenant General Nguyen Khac Nghien, chief of the General Staff of the Viet Nam People’s Army, also received Senior Lieutenant General Liang yesterday.
Nghien told Liang that his visit strengthened solidarity and co-operation between the two peoples and armies according to the "Friendly neighbourliness, comprehensive co-operation, durable stability and future oriented vision" guidelines, and the four good spirits of "Good neighbourliness, good comradeship, good friendship and good partnership". Liang thanked Nghien and other Vietnamese officers for a solemn and friendly reception for the Chinese delegation.
The two sides exchanged experiences in military development, and pledged to continue exchanging military delegations, co-ordinate sea patrol efforts and other issues of common concern for peace and stability in the region and world.
Earlier, Liang and his delegation laid a wreath and paid tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at his mausoleum.
He also paid a courtesy visit to the National Defence Minister, Senior Lieutenant General Phung Quang Thanh. — VNS
Party general secretary begins Venezuela visit
CARACAS — A high-ranking Vietnamese delegation led by Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh began an official visit to the Republic of Venezuela on Wednesday.
General Secretary Manh was received with a solemn ceremony reserved for foreign heads of state.
The same day, the Vietnamese Party leader met with Venezuelan Parliament Chairwoman Cilia Flores, who lauded the visit as an historical event.
The Venezuelan people had always admired the heroic Vietnamese nation that defeated powerful enemies in the past and was now overcoming poverty to build its own socialist-oriented developed nation, she said.
General Secretary Manh and Chairwoman Flores shared the view that the traditional solidarity and friendship between Viet Nam and Venezuela is a common valuable asset and an important factor to accelerate bilateral co-operation.
The two sides agreed to strengthen the exchange of experiences between the two countries’ parliaments, especially in building a legal framework for a stable, long-term and sustainable co-operation between Viet Nam and Venezuela.
The General Secretary then received the head of the Board of Leaders of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela.
On behalf of the party, Hoochie Rodriguez said that the PSUV, as a core political party in the Boliva revolution led by President Hugo Chavez, wishes to promote regular exchanges of experiences with the Communist Party of Viet Nam, helping boost the friendship, solidarity and comprehensive co-operation between the two countries.
General Secretary Manh affirmed the people of Viet Nam’s support for the Venezuelan people in the cause of protecting national independence and sovereignty and building peace, democracy, development and social advancement.
He emphasised the need to strengthen the friendship and co-operation between Viet Nam and Venezuela’s political parties and organisations.
The two sides discussed specific measures to increase the exchange of delegations and experiences between the two parties.
The Party leader invited PSUV’s high-ranking delegation to visit Viet Nam. — VNS
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