AO victim undergoes free surgery in Taiwan

A seven-year-old Vietnamese Agent Orange victim on May 28 flew to Taiwan to get free plastic surgery. The patient, Nguyen Xuan Minh, suffers from Crouzon syndrome, a genetic disorder often caused by Agent Orange. The operations cost of 150,000 USD was donated by some organizations in Taiwan.

Blood-related disease centre to be built

A blood-related disease treatment centre which is expected to become Vietnam s largest bone marrow transplant centre will be built in Hanoi .The centre, an arm of t he National H aematology and Blood T ransfusion Hospital, will also function as a blood supplier for all northern provinces .The centre was as part of an agreement signed on May 28 by the National H aematology and Blood Transfusion Hospital with the Vietnam Development Bank for a loan of 103 billion VND to build new facilitiesThe hospital was the first among the 16 clinics nationwide to be provided with preferential loans to improve their disease examination and treatment capacity.

Community health project expands

A community health improvement project will be expanded to benefit another 10 communes in 2008 following positive outcomes recorded in 2007. The project Improve community health through upgrading personal hygiene and environmental sanitation was test-run in 10 communes in Ha Tay, Thanh Hoa and Ha Nam provinces and Haiphong city in the north and the central province of Ha Tinh last year. It helped hold training courses on personal hygiene and environmental sanitation. These topics were also integrated into the curriculum of general education schools. The project also supported the building or upgrade of bathrooms, water tanks, running systems and public latrines. Free supplies of soap further instigated better hygiene practices for hundreds of local families. In the new phase, the project will be expanded to five more provinces in the north, namely Nam Dinh, Vinh Phuc, Hoa Binh, Thai Nguyen and Thai Binh.

Japan helps build health clinic in northern mountains

Japanese official development assistance has funded a new 150 billion VND health poly-clinic in the northern mountainous province of Hoa Binh . A recent ceremony opened three five-storey buildings to be used for medical check-ups and treatments for local people. The clinic includes a hi-tech centre with the latest medical equipment such as new generation scanners and health condition monitors for critically ill patients.

HCM City monitors dangerous wildlife breeding

Ho Chi Minh City rangers are inspecting management and safety regulations at wildlife farms to ensure safety for breeders and healthy conditions for animals. The municipal rangers had previously sent out an official dispatch ordering organisations, individuals and farmers who were raising dangerous wildlife such as crocodiles, bear and snakes to repair and reinforce breeding facilities to guarantee safety during the upcoming raining season.A total of 124,450 crocodiles and 432 bears which have been tagged with electronic chips are being raised at farms in the city.

Volunteers’ summer launched

The 2008 volunteers’ summer was launched in Hanoi on May 28, by the Secretariat of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union.

The summer, starting on June 1 and finishing on August 31, has five main programmes, including the protection of home rivers, support for children’s going to school, support for examination season, traffic safety and joyful summer for children.

The support for children’s going school is a new programme in this year’s volunterary summer. Within the programmes, groups of volunteers will be established to go to places with a high number of school drops-out to help them revise lessons and encourage them to return to school.

Groups of volunteers will collect learning materials and books, and call for scholarships for pupils, and repair classrooms and upgrade learning facilities.

VND 25 billion for disease prevention

The Unilever Vietnam Fund has donated VND 25 billion for improving the public’s awareness of individual and environmental sanitation, with the aim of preventing diseases.

This was announced by the Department of Preventive Medicines and Environment, the Ministry of Public Health.

The money will be spent on promoting the education of people, students and pupils on self-protection against currently danger infectious diseases, including severe acute diarrhoea, foot-hand-and-mouth disease.

According to statistics by the public health service, so far, ten out of 26 infectious diseases have become easier for people to be infected with. This is due to poor awareness of sanitation practices.

VND 50 million for Comradeship Fund

VND 50 million was raised for the Comradeship Fund at an art exchange meeting in Hanoi on May 26.

The event, held by the Vietnam War Veterans’ newspaper, the Dong Duong Communication Company, and the VTC Media Corporation, saw the participation of historical witnesses and war veterans, who have made significant contributions in searching of remains of martyrs.

Pham Van Nam from Ha Dong city, Ha Tay province, and Nguyen Van Chinh from Hanoi, are examples in the work, and were honoured at the meeting.

State Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan attended the meeting.

Avian flu returns in southern province

The Veterinary Department has said avian flu has reoccurred in the southern province of Tra Vinh after being apparently stamped out several weeks ago. The disease was discovered in a flock of 450 chickens and ducks, killing 150. All the affected poultry were culled after the disease was confirmed. At present, southern Can Tho City and Tra Vinh province are reporting avian flu.

German group gives light to the poor

Three thousand poor households in Ho Chi Minh City will be targeted to benefit from upgraded electricity access under a programme funded by German electrical group Hager, announced the groups Asian Regional Business Director Benoit Schlaefli. The target was set for implementation from now to 2010 at an estimated cost of over 375,000 USD (6 billion VND), with a view to expand the program across all cities and provinces of Vietnam .The announcement follows a cooperation agreement signed between Hager and the Vietnamese group Khai Toan (KTG) on May 29, which gives KTG sole producer and distributer rights to Hager electrical equipment in Vietnam.

Storm forecast for East Sea

The National Centre for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting said a storm with a wind speed of 110-120km/h in the Pacific Ocean could move towards the East Sea during the next few days.

Today, a cold spell from the North may cause rain and strong winds in the North and northern Central region.

The South and the Central Highlands will have scattered rains and temperatures of 22-35oC in the following three to four days.

Thirty suffer seafood poisoning from market

Nearly 30 people were treated at hospitals in Phan Thiet City, Binh Thuan Province on Wednesday evening for food poisoning.

The patients said they had eaten hong fish or snappers, which were on sale at several markets in Phan Thiet.

Famous Dak Lak elephant dies

An elephant regarded as the biggest in the Central Highlands Dak Lak Province, the land of elephants in Viet Nam, suffered a sudden death on Tuesday evening after reportedly eating grass from a field that had been sprayed with insecticide.

The 68-year-old elephant, Y Trut, had won many prizes at local races and strength competitions. Y Trut, 7.4 tonnes in weight and 3.4m in height, was buried according to the customs of Tay Nguyen highlanders.

Two children drown at Dak Nong reservoir

Two seven-year-old children were found dead in a reservoir in Dak Nong Province yesterday.

They were reported to die after taking a bath in the reservoir, even though they could not swim. Seven children have drowned this month in the province.

Meanwhile, eight children drowned when bathing in rivers in neighbouring Gia Lai Province during the past 10 days.

Border drug-ring traffickers busted

The Cao Bang Border Police on Tuesday said a major drug trafficking ring had been busted.

The police arrested the leader of the ring, Nong Van Thin, 49, who confessed that he and his accomplices had trafficked 10 kilograms of heroin and opium from Dien Bien Province to China for sale.

Three of his accomplices were also detained.

Poor children to get donated presents

Poor children in Ha Tay and Son La provinces will receive a total of VND31 million (US$2,000), 950 sets of clothing and other presents, to mark International Childrens Day on Sunday.

The Ha Noi National University will deliver the presents, which were donated by more than 30 organisations and individuals in Ha Noi.

Exploding plane still a mystery

The origin of a plane that was reported to have exploded over Kien Giang Provinces Phu Quoc Island on Tuesday morning is still a mystery, although authorities suspect the plane was not from Viet Nam.

A spokesman for Vietnam Airlines, Trinh Ngoc Thanh, said no Vietnam Airlines flights were involved in the explosion.

The general director of Vasco Company, Bui Ngoc Hoang, also said the companys planes were not involved.

The Air Control Department confirmed that when the explosion occurred, no civilian or military aircraft were flying over the island.

Cambodia hands over VN soldiers remains

The authorities and military section of Cambodias Preah Vihear Province have handed over 50 sets of remains of Vietnamese voluntary soldiers, who died in the province during the war-time in Cambodia.Addressing the hand-over ceremony on Wednesday, provincial representative Prap Dan expressed gratitude to the fallen soldiers and other Vietnamese volunteers, who devoted their lives to help Cambodia escape the genocidal Khmer Rouge regime that claimed more than 2.7 million of Cambodian lives.

HCM City upgrades water stations

HCM City will invest VND126 billion (US$7.9 million) to build 22 water supply stations and upgrade 26 more.

The project aims to increase the number of people who have access to fresh water to 95 per cent by 2010, and meet the standard of supplying 60 litres of water per day per person.

New foreign-invested projects in Da Nang

Since the beginning of the year, local and foreign enterprises have invested in 14 projects worth US$923.7 million in Da Nang. According to the City Investment Promotion Centre, 18 projects are waiting for approval from the city government.

City needs VND226b for flood prevention

HCM Citys Flood and Storm Prevention Steering Committee has petitioned the city Peoples Committee to approve a proposal to build 156 flood and storm prevention projects this year.

The projects cost VND226 billion. The steering committee said major sites such as the EastWest Highway project and Nhieu LocThi Nghe sanitation project are proceeding too slowly. Some drainage projects are blocking the sewers and preventing the flow of water.

Three oil smuggling lorries busted

Three lorries trafficking 35,880 litres of oil were seized by authorities in Binh Dinh Province, said the provincial Market Watch Department on Wednesday.

The three drivers confessed they were hired to transport the oil from Quy Nhon for sale to HCM City.

The owner of the smuggled oil remains unknown.

Cambodia hands over VN soldiers remains

The authorities and military section of Cambodias Preah Vihear Province have handed over 50 sets of remains of Vietnamese voluntary soldiers, who died in the province during the war-time in Cambodia.Addressing the hand-over ceremony on Wednesday, provincial representative Prap Dan expressed gratitude to the fallen soldiers and other Vietnamese volunteers, who devoted their lives to help Cambodia escape the genocidal Khmer Rouge regime that claimed more than 2.7 million of Cambodian lives.

Advertising firms fined for billboard violations

Three advertising companies were fined for violating billboard regulations.

District 1s Cultural Centre, the Trade Exhibition and Advertising Joinstock Company and Tan My Long Advertising Design Joinstock Company were fined between VND30-45 million (US$1,875-2,812) each.

Their boards exceeded size regulations, contained incorrectly registered information or were not printed in Vietnamese.

HCM City upgrades water stations

HCM City will invest VND126 billion (US$7.9 million) to build 22 water supply stations and upgrade 26 more.

The project aims to increase the number of people who have access to fresh water to 95 per cent by 2010, and meet the standard of supplying 60 litres of water per day per person.

Regulations issued on apartment buildings

The Ministry of Construction has published regulations on the management of apartment buildings.

Under the new regulations, tenants in the building must hold meetings and form a management board for each apartment building.

The meetings require the participation of at least 50 per cent of tenants to make final decisions in management and house-usage in accordance with the law.

The board is intended to protect the rights of people in the building and ensure that regulations are followed.

(Source: VNS, VNA,