National conference on blindness prevention opens; Local authorities mobilise to deal with floods; Lao Cai, Dozens of fertilizer traders, makers fined in highlands; 550 monks, nuns receive certificates for Buddhist studies

The event, organised by the Vietnam Ophthalmology Association in coordination with Vietnam’s Central Ophthalmology Hospital, saw the attendance of 600 doctors, surgeons and technicians representing ophthalmological hospitals and centres nationwide, along with experts from Japan, India, Singapore, Philippines and Thailand.

The event focused on assessing the work of preventing from blindness in 2008, while exchanging experiences and laying out directions for the future.

The rate of blindness in the country remained high in 2008 with 0.5 percent of the population suffering from the condition. The primary reason for the high level was attributed to poverty and lack of medical treatment centres.

Ophthalmological staff, particularly in mountainous and remote areas, is lacking in both quantity and quality.

The Vietnam Ophthalmology Association also used the event to commend and reward five units in Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Can Tho, Vinh Long and Hai Phong, which had recorded excellent results in preventing blindness.

Local authorities mobilise to deal with floods

Constant heavy rains in one week caused great losses in many provinces.

By September 8, heavy rains had submerged nearly 1,000ha of rice and crops in Chu Prong, Chu Pa, Mang Yang and Is Grai districts in the central highlands province of Gia Lai. Floods also swept away a child and injured five others in Mang Yang district. Many bridges, irrigation systems and roads were damaged, causing a numerous transport problems. Floods also deluged more than 100 houses. The province sent two delegations led by the chairman and vice chairman of the provincial people’s committee, to deal directly with the aftermath of the disaster.

In Tien Giang province, more than 1,630ha of summer crops were destroyed and over 3,700ha others were damaged by the floods.

Constant heavy rain over a week blocked many roads in mountainous areas in the central region, causing severe traffic jams. Local authorities are attempting to clear the roads but traffic jams are still occurring. The prices of essential commodities have also risen and rice prices have increased by VND2,000 per kg.

Lao Cai, Yunnan to boost tourism co-operation

The north western province of Lao Cai and China’s Yunnan province signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at boosting their co-operation in the tourist sector at the Sapa Union Hotel on September 8.

Attending the ceremony were Nguyen Huu Son, Director of the Lao Cai’s Culture, Sports and Tourism Department and He Chikang, Deputy Director-General of Yunnan Provincial Tourism Administration.

The two sides agreed to assist each other in organising trade fairs and exhibitions as part of measures to boost cross-border travel.

They proposed that the two countries’ border-gate agencies should facilitate co-operation and hold annual meetings.

Dozens of fertilizer traders, makers fined in highlands

The central highlands province of Dak Lak on Monday fined 44 local fertilizer companies for violating manufacturing and trade laws.

According to inspectors from the Dak Lak Department of Agriculture and Rural Development – which fined the businesses a total of VND331.9 million (US$18,618) for the transgressions – 26 out of 50 fertilizers samples taken from the companies did not meet the quality standards indicated on labels.

The inspectorate also suspended the circulation of 100 tons of fertilizers that were improperly labeled.

Over 60 companies have been blacklisted for producing fake and poor quality fertilizers at 31 provinces and cities, local newspaper Nhan Dan reported, citing statistics from the Plant Cultivation Bureau.

Five rings manufacturing nearly 1,000 tons of illicit fertilizers were busted in June and July, according to the agency at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Also in July, officials and experts proposed stricter measures against those who violate fertilizer production and trade laws.

The proposed measures include higher fines for trading in dubious quality fertilizers, and stricter conditions for issuing licenses to fertilizer producers.

550 monks, nuns receive certificates for Buddhist studies

Nearly 550 monks and nuns have graduated from the 6th training course of the Vietnam Buddhist Studies Institute, with 49 percent of them receiving excellent certificates.
This was the first training course held in Ho Chi Minh City. The certificate award ceremony was held at Pho Quang Pagoda in the city.

Venerable Thich Quang Hieu, a new graduate, said that with four years of hard study at the Institute, trainees have gained knowledge and improved their moral character in order to better serve their religious cause, human life and other people.

Gia Lai donates friendship school to Laos’ Attopu province

The Gia Lai-Attopu Friendship Primary School has opened in Laos’ Attopu province at the start of the new 2009-2010 academic year.

The school was built by the central highland province of Gia Lai at a total cost of VND4.7 billion.

The two-storey school has 8 classrooms, covers an area of 396 sq.m, and can accommodate 400 students.

In recent months Gia Lai also has helped Attopu build a 100-bed hospital.

German-Vietnamese Association of Cardiology meets

The 13th congress of the German-Vietnamese Association of Cardiology (DVFK) was held in Braunschweig city, in the state of Niedersachsen, Germany, on September 5.

Present among the participants were DVFK members and around 100 professors, and cardiac physicians from German and Swiss hospitals and institutes, including Hubert Binkoff from the Association of Braunschweig Doctors.

They discussed topics relating to the diagnosis of diseases of the heart and the accompanied risks. They also talked about experiences drawn from treatment for heart patients in Germany and Vietnam.

They agreed to send a delegation to Ho Chi Minh City and Can Tho City in November in order to give lectures and introduce new treatment therapies. The delegation will also provide check-up treatment for local patients.

The DVFK has actively supported Vietnamese medical universities and heart treatment centres over the years.

German and Swiss professors, who have given lectures and provided treatment in Vietnam , said they are left with a good impression of their Vietnamese colleagues and will continue to assist the Vietnamese side in the future.

Australia offers more educational aid

Australia will provide Vietnamese students with 200 scholarships annually under a Government programme, an increase of 25 from the current level.

The plan was announced at a meeting in Canberra on September 7 between leaders from the Australian Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations and Deputy Minister of Education and Training (MoET) Pham Vu Luan.

He informed the host of Vietnam’s policy to encourage prestigious universities, colleges and vocational training schools in Australia to open branches in Vietnam.

The MoET delegation also sought Australian support for a project to teach and study foreign languages for the 2008-20 period, with a focus on training English teachers for Vietnamese schools and encouraging Vietnamese students to follow post-graduate courses in Australia.

Both sides agreed to provide Vietnamese students with full and accurate information on Australian education for in preparation for their studies.

Australian officials also promised to help Vietnam in a project to train leaders and managers abroad.

According to Deputy Minister Luan, the Australian Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations will send a delegation to Vietnam in November to decide on concrete steps to further their shared objectives in this field.

So far the number of Vietnamese trained in Australia has reached over 17,000, in addition to some 14,000 other students attending Vietnam-based Australian universities.

German journalist shows respect for President Ho

The late President Ho Chi Minh and his revolutionary life have been honoured in the German daily newspaper Neues Deutschland (New Germany).

Hellmut Kapfenberger began his article by asking the question “Who was the person whose name was espoused in 1968, calling for support from Germany to help end the war against the US aggressors in the Indochina peninsula?”

He also quoted assessments and remarks made by famous politicians and scholars about President Ho Chi Minh, who was seen as a hero of national liberation and a great man of culture by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

Ho Chi Minh was a extraordinary person, wrote Kapfenberger, adding that he not only was an expert of history, culture and the arts but also spoke many languages.
Four decades have passed since President Ho Chi Minh died on September 2, 1969, but 2010 will be an opportunity to remember and honour him, as an international symposium will be held in Hanoi to mark his 120th birthday.

The article entitled “A revolutionary leader” was released on September 5 to commemorate the 40th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh’s death.

Hellmut Kapfenberger, who used to be a correspondent for the General German News Service (ADN), wrote a book on President Ho Chi Minh on the anniversary of his 119th birthday.

France to help treat dioxin-polluted land

France will help Vietnam to address the problem of land contaminated by dioxins after the American War, said a French MP on September 8.

The remarks were made by Christian Jacob, Chairman of the French Parlimentary Commission on Sustainable Development and Territorial Planning, during a meeting the same day with Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai.

“French agencies will work with Vietnam to treat dioxin-contaminated land and make it cultivable again,” he said.

The French MP also noted that more international support is needed so Vietnam can deal with problems arising from climate change, the consequences of which have already been felt by the country.

Jacob is leading a delegation from the French Parliament on a visit to Vietnam to prepare for the 8th meeting of the Vietnam-France Economic and Financial Forum which is scheduled to be held in Ha Long City in Quang Ninh province this November.

Deputy PM Hoang Trung Hai told the French official that Vietnam is targeting energy conservation and a diversification of its energy sources, especially renewable ones.

Vietnam has conducted pilot programmes to develop solar power and energy from wind and biomass sources, Hai said.

He also noted that the domestic transportation sector has gradually improved and narrowed the gap between current standards of environmental protection and energy efficiency applied to registered vehicles and international standards.

The economic and financial forum between Vietnam and France this year will focus on energy, the reduction of greenhouse gases, the efficient and sustainable use of energy sources and instigate joint efforts to deal with climate change.

PV