Deputy PM meets with AIDS co-ordinator

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc yesterday met with US Global AIDS Co-ordinator Eric Goosby to discuss Viet Nam's HIV/AIDS prevention strategy.

Phuc said that he resolutely supported the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), a US programme which has provided funding of about US$500 million to Viet Nam since 2005.

He added that the country has already approved its own national programme for HIV prevention until 2020 and has been strengthening the National Committee efforts towards HIV/AIDS prevention.

The deputy PM called on the US to continue supporting Viet Nam in comprehensive HIV prevention, care and treatment activities across the country.

Goosby congratulated Viet Nam on its achievements in HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment and its proactive approach to tackling the problem.

He was briefed on PEPFAR's progresses in Viet Nam and said that the US would maintain its position as a major supporter.

Bamboo shoots with no certificates detected

Authorities in the southern province of Dong Nai detected dozens of tonnes of fresh bamboo shoots being soaked in chemicals at a factory in Bien Hoa City's Ho Nai Ward on Monday.

Illustrative image.— Photo baodongnai

 

The unit's owner could not provide any papers to verify product origin or certificates of hygiene and safety, local police said. Samples have been taken for testing.

Labour exchange deal with Saudis firm

Viet Nam and Saudi Arabia have agreed in principle to strengthen their co-operation in labour exchange.

Under the terms of the draft agreement, Viet Nam will encourage workers to move to Saudi Arabia to become housekeepers.

The commitment was made at a meeting on Monday in Ha Noi between Deputy Minister of Labour Nguyen Thanh Hoa and his Saudi Arabian counterpart Alfahaid Ahmed Fahadi.

Currently, there are nearly 16,000 Vietnamese people working in Saudi Arabia in construction, oil processing, mechanics and agricultural production, among others.

According to Fahadi, the purpose of his visit was to discuss the housekeeping agreement that would soon be signed between two countries.

Saudi Arabia has always implemented an open policy toward foreign workers, Fahadi stressed, adding that his country has developed a strong legal framework and infrastructure for foreign workers.

Hoa said Viet Nam had signed similar agreements with Taiwan, Malaysia and South Korea, but housekeeping was a sensitive area of labour co-operation that required careful discussion.

He outlined his hope that Saudi Arabia would work with Viet Nam to hold a labour co-operation forum to make sure businesses from both countries would continue working together.

Road accident kills 3, injures 8 in Lao Cai

Three passengers were killed and eight other people injured after a pick-up truck plunged into a ravine in the northern mountainous Lao Cai Province's Van Ban District early yesterday morning.

The accident occurred on a bend after the driver lost control.

The eight injured, including the driver, are being treated at the Van Ban hospital. Their condition was not available last night.

Summer blood donation campaign launched

Nearly 600,000 people are expected to donate at least 301,620 units of blood during a four-month long campaign which was launched on May 8.

The campaign, organised by the National Steering Board for Voluntary Blood Donation, aims to encourage people of all social strata to take part in voluntary blood donation drives across the country, hoping to gather additional amounts of blood for hospitals this summer.

Provinces and cities have devised preparatory plans, including locating blood donation venues and enhancing communication campaigns to raise public awareness of blood donation.

The organising board will host separate blood donation festivals of journalists, families and young people. As many as 100 exemplary Vietnamese blood donors will be honoured on this occasion.

More than 65,000 volunteers are expected to participate in the mobilisation work.

Free internet access for ethnic groups

Authorities in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong have chosen 48 remote locations with large populations of ethnic minority groups, to set up sites providing free Internet access.

The project, funded by the Bill&Melinda Gates Foundation at a cost of VND6 billion (US$286,000), will supply the sites with 550 computers and printers and train local staff to monitor the sites.

Vietnam Medi-Pharm Expo 2013 in Hanoi

The 20th Vietnam International Hospital, Medical and Pharmaceutical Exhibition (Vietnam Medi-Pharm Expo 2013) opened in Hanoi on May 8 with the participation of 450 stalls of 350 domestic and foreign businesses.

In his opening speech Deputy Health Minister Nguyen Thanh Long said the aim is to help businesses introduce their latest medical and pharmaceutical products and cutting-edge technologies.

From May 8-11, the Expo organising board will co-sponsor the Vietnam Red Cross Society (VRC) and other humanitarian organisations to hold some activities, including disseminating information on the A/H7N9 avian influenza epidemic, introducing the Cow Bank programme, assisting poor districts in border areas to cope with natural disasters and promoting the 2012 Red Blood summer campaign.

++ Some other exhibitions, namely the 6th Vietnam Hospital Expo, the 2nd Vietnam Dental Expo and the 7th China Medical and Pharmaceutical Exhibition (China Medi-pharm), are also held in the capital city on this occasion.

VNN/VOV/VNS/VNA