Localities urged to implement HIV/AIDS prevention strategy

The central city of Danang held a conference on November 26 reviewing the progress of the HIV/AIDS prevention campaign in communities over the 2008-2012 period.

The conference also discussed implementing the national HIV/AIDS prevention strategy through 2020 while maintaining vision to 2030.

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc asked localities to urgently review their programmes, learning from each other and disseminating the most effective models.

They were required to strive towards fulfilling the UN commitment of zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths. Financial and human resources must be allocated adequately to cope with the epidemic.

Treatment methods using alternative synthetics to replace illicit addictive substances should be expanded so that 80,000 drug users will benefit from methadone programmes by 2015.

The national strategy for HIV/AIDS prevention now aims to reduce the HIV infection rate to less than 0.3 percent by 2020, minimising its negative impact on socio-economic development.

It also includes comprehensive measures to care for and treat people with HIV, monitor the epidemic, allocate sufficient financial and human resources to the issue, and cooperate with international initiatives.

Over the past five years, the campaign has successfully raised public awareness and encouraged locals to engage in fighting HIV/AIDS in 60 out of 63 provinces nationwide.

More than 200,000 people are still living with HIV, of which over 58,500 have developed full-blown AIDS.

Every month more than 1,000 people are found to be HIV positive and the infection is spreading to geographical groups previously judged low risk.

The most common method of transmission is now via sex. Vietnam’s highest rates of HIV infection are in the northern and southern regions.

Song Mang Bridge open to traffic

Song Mang Bridge linking Vietnam’s southern Binh Phuoc province to Cambodia’s eastern Mondulkiri province opened to traffic on November 26.

The bridge, 27.3m long and 12m wide, was built at a cost of more than VND12 billion funded by Binh Phuoc province.

Vice Chairman of the Binh Phuoc provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Huy Phong said the bridge will contribute to promoting trade exchange between Binh Phuoc and Mondulkiri, improving local people’s living condition and creating more opportunities for tourism development.

Over 900 workers to sit Korean language exams

The fifth EPS-TOPIK Korean language test will take place on December 3, open to workers who returned home on schedule after their contracts expired.

According to the Department of Overseas Labour under the Ministry of Labour, Invalids, and Social Affairs (MoLISA), around 911 workers have registered to do the test in Hanoi, Nghe An, and Ho Chi Minh City. Candidate lists will be released on November 29.

Workers whose contracts have expired but still possess valid visas are also permitted to take the exam.

The Republic of Korea recently stopped recruiting new Vietnamese guest workers because of the high number of illegal workers in the country. The Government responded by only offering employment opportunities to workers who return home on schedule.

More than 12,000 Vietnamese workers passed Korean language tests in 2010 and 2011. Although they fulfilled all the criteria to work in the RoK, they are not currently permitted to do so. The MoLISA has requested the Korean Ministry of Employment and Labour to expand Korean language certificates’ validity duration to over two years.

Internet network for poor rural people

A new public internet system is being set up to serve thousands of people in 12 poor provinces throughout Viet Nam.
As many as 634 public Internet access points have already been opened in 12 poor provinces, including Thai Nguyen, Nghe An and Tra Vinh.

This is the first phase of a project named Improvement of Computer Usage and Public Internet Access Ability in Viet Nam. Under the scheme, last year it began installing the outlets in post offices – and in libraries in provinces, districts, schools, hospitals and peoples' committees.

About 4,180 computers, 637 printers, 11 servers and other subsidiary equipment have been installed at these points.

The project, being carried out by the Ministry of Information and Communication, aims to help people improve their lives through using computers and having internet access.

It provides free internet access at libraries and a 50 per cent fee reduction at post offices.

The 2011-16 project is projected to provide public internet services at 900 libraries in provinces, districts and communes – and at 1,000 "cultural" post offices in 40 deprived provinces.

Nearly 2,000 local staff and managers will be trained in IT skills.

The US$50 million project is supported by Viet Nam Post and Telecommunication Corporation, the Military Telecom Corporation, Bill&Melinda Gates Foundation and Microsoft Company.

Laos, Vietnam enhance religious activities

A delegation of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs, led by its deputy permanent head Nguyen Thanh Xuan, is paying a working visit to Laos from November 25 to December 1.

The delegation held talks with a delegation from the Central Committee of the Lao Front for National Construction (LFNC), led by its Vice Chairman Kenta Kongbounmi.

The two sides informed each other of the situation of religion and reviewed the results of religious cooperation from 2007.

They expressed their delight with the achievements in delegation exchange, training cooperation and experience sharing in State management in this issue, contributing to strengthening the two countries’ special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation.

They held that the two sides will continue intensifying visit exchanges, sharing information and experience, and completing a new draft on cooperative agreement at an early date.

Herbal medicine suspended after tests

The Viet Nam Drug Administration has decided to suspend circulation of a herbal medicine used to regulate the menstrual cycle, after tests showed that it does not work.

The decision was based on results gathered at the Drug and Cosmetic Testing Centre in southern Long An province.

The medicine, created by the manufacturer Dai Hong Phuc Traditional Medicine, has now been recalled from all markets.

The medicine's use-by date is July 2014.

Gates offers free internet in Ben Tre

People in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta province of Ben Tre have been given free internet access at public libraries.
Fees are also being subsidised by 50 per cent at communes' cultural post offices.

The move is part of a project funded by Bill and Melinda Gates, named ‘Improvement of Computer Usage and Public Internet Access Ability in Viet Nam'. Ben Tre is one of 12 provinces nationwide chosen to benefit from the scheme.

VNN/VOV/VNS