SOCIAL IN BRIEF 27/4

07:43' 27/04/2009 (GMT+7)

Pleiku upgraded to second class city Pleiku city on April 24 held its 80th founding anniversary (1929 – 2009) and received the Prime Minister’s decision on upgrading it to the second class city. At the ceremony, Hoang Cong Ly, Deputy Chairman of Gia Lai provincial People’s Committee was assigned by the Prime Minister to award the above-said decision to Pleiku city leaders and recognize the great contributions and efforts of the city authorites over the past 80 years of the city’s construction and development. Vietnamese paintings on display in Hong Kong Paintings by contemporary Vietnamese artists are on display at an exhibition in the Rotunda Exchange Square Central in Hong Kong, China, to mark Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung’s visit. The seven-day exhibition runs through April 26 and features works by such famous painters as Nguyen Trung, Do Quang Em and Dang Xuan Hoa. The exhibition is jointly sponsorred by the Vietnamese Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and relevant agencies in Hong Kong. Over VND 207 billion to bring electricity to ethnic minority people The Electricity Company No. 2 and the electricity sector of the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong are accelerating the building of electric infrastructure to connect power to over 19,700 families in 12 districts, with a total investment capital of VND 207.6 billion. According to Mr. Nguyen Van Minh, deputy head of the provincial electricity department, one year after the inauguration, 65% of the construction has been accomplished. It is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2009. The construction will also provide electricity for 1,200 villages with 116,000 ethnic minority families in five Central Highlands provinces. Kon Tum province holds an ethnic cultural festival A cultural festival of ethnic minority groups in the Central Highlands has taken place in a traditional house in Dak Cho village, Ngoc Tu commune, Dak To district, Kon Tum province. More than 400 artisans from 9 communes in the Dak To district participated in the festival. Diverse cultural activities such as gastronomy, folk games, traditional cloth and gong performances were held during the festival. This was an activity to mark the 37th anniversary of the liberation of Dak To – Tan Canh and improve awareness in the preservation of culture among ethnic minority people in the Central Highlands. Vietnamese ensemble wins gold cup at Pyongyang Spring Festival A Vietnamese ensemble of 22 singers and musicians has won the gold cup at the 26th international arts festival in Pyongyang in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. The event attracted 650 artists from 24 countries and territories around the world. The Vietnamese artists played traditional music instruments and songs. They also joined a number of overseas artists from Mongolia, Moldavia and Indonesia in various performances. Foreign assistance helps mine victims Clear Path International of the US will provide US$15,000 to a US$15,750 project to help mine victims in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue. The project will be carried out in the mountainous districts of A Luoi and Nam Dong. Mine victims in the localities will be provided with seedling and breeding animals, as well as training in husbandry, aquaculture and forest plantation. The province has also received assistance from other foreign and international organisations to clear bombs and mines. The German Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs recently donated US$3.81 million to Thua Thien-Hue to clear bombs and mines on 600 hectares in the districts of Huong Thuy, Phu Loc, and Huong Tra. 46,700 bombs, mines and unexplosive objects have been cleared so far. However, about 7,000 ha of land, in the former battle fields of Nam Dong, A Luoi, Phong Dien, Huong Tra, Huong Thuy and Phu Loc remain yet to be assisted with bomb and mine clearance. Safe water project built for SEA Games 25 Construction of a project to supply safe water for the sport complex for the up-coming 25th Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 25th) began in Xaythany district, Vientiane, on April 24. The Dongbang project with an investment capital of 10 million USD is a joint venture between Mai Dong company of Vietnam and Vientiane Safe Water Supply Company. Addressing the ceremony, Vientiane leaders pledged to create favourable conditions for the project, which will markedly contribute to developing infrastructure of the capital city and improving living conditions for local people. Plan to help poor pay medical bills The Mekong Delta Region Health Support Project, in cooperation with the Ministry of Health and the US-based RASS company, plans to raise funds to help pay for health insurance for the near-poor. The funds would pay full insurance costs for three years through 2011. Currently, 80 percent of the payment for health insurance for the near-poor in 13 of the local provinces is paid by the State and the Mekong Delta Region Health Support Project. The RASS Company will raise funds to support the remaining 20 percent of the cost. The project will affect nearly 900 people in the region. RASS will hold its first fund-raiser on June 2 in Can Tho City. It plans to hold two fund-raising campaign a year through 2011. Vietnam aims to reduce malaria Dr Nguyen Manh Hung, director of National Institute of Malariology, Parasitology and Entomology, April 25 said that this year the Government plans to reduce the number of malaria cases and deaths, as well as prevent the spread of disease. According to the latest Ministry of Health survey, there were 12,548 cases of malaria and one death since the beginning of the year, down 25.3 percent over the same period last year. Drug-resistant malarial parasites have spread to many provinces, said Dr Hung, adding that the WHO also warned about this on World Malaria Awareness Day on April 25. The WHO said that this disease may spread widely in the Mekong Delta, with drug resistance preventing efforts to eradicate malaria by 2015. VNA reporters gain better access to auditor’s office The State Audit Office of Viet Nam and the Vietnam News Agency yesterday signed an agreement that allows VNA reporters with easier access to the Vietnamese auditors’ official sources of information. According to the agreement, the State Audit Office of Viet Nam has responsibility in providing the Vietnam News Agency with a wide range of information, ranging from legal documents and documents relating to its organisation and operations, to examining reports. The State Audit Office, in co-operation with the Vietnam News Agency, will also open training courses to show journalists how to interpret its reports more effectively. It will also organise professional seminars to enhance bilateral understanding. General Auditor Vuong Dinh Hue said the agreement was a firm foundation for both agencies to better serve the community. General Director of the Vietnam News Agency Tran Mai Huong said the new co-operation would help reporters provide international and local readers with more accurate and informative news. Nation’s biggest service station opens A 3.3ha service station on Highway 20 in the southern province of Dong Nai was opened on Thursday. The Tan Phu District service station, costing VND70 billion (US$4.1 million), was funded by Dong Nai-based Tin Nghia Co Ltd. It is described as the biggest in the country. The service station houses a petrol station, two restaurants, a convenience store and a garage. It is hoped the complex will help reduce accidents on Highway 20. Inspectors confiscate Chinese poultry The Bac Giang health authorities have confiscated 2,000 chickens, 1,500 ducklings and 300 goslings being transported in a lorry in Yen Dung District. It was the largest consignment of poultry ever seized by authorities in the northern province, local health inspectors said. Owner of the goods found in Dong Son Commune said he imported the poultry from China and did not have any quarantine certificates for them. Fine holiday weather in North; centre cool Northern provinces will have fine weather with a temperature of 21 to 30 degrees over this week’s two-day holiday, the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecast said. On Liberation Day (April 30) and May Day (May 1), central provinces will have cool weather and may experience whirlwinds and hail. The south can expect strong winds and rain in the evening from April 30 to May 3. Poor students paid ferry expenses The Ca Mau People’s Committee has approved a project of supporting poor and disabled students with ferry expenses. Under the project, each poor and disabled student in the province would receive VND150,000 (US$9) a month, said Vo Quoc Viet, chairman of the people’s committee. A pilot programme would be implemented in Ngoc Hien District from now until the end of May and be expanded to remaining districts next school year. About 30,800 students, more than 15 per cent of local students, go to school by ferry. This school year, nearly 400 students dropped out because they could not pay ferry fees. PV