Vietnam strives to have more HIV/AIDS infected people with health insurance in a bid to eliminate HIV/AIDS epidemic. Because financial aid from international groups has been cut thus treatment for people living with HIV/AIDS will reliant on domestic sources forcing patients to have health insurance which ensures for a prolonged treatment. However, the rate of HIV/AIDS infected people having health insurance is low causing difficulties for the country’s efforts to end the epidemic. There are almost 29,402 people living with HIV/ AIDS in Ho Chi Minh City, said Duong Minh Hai from the city’s HIV/AIDS Prevention Center at a seminar to value the treatment of HIV/AIDS people with health insurance in 2016 lately. Of 29,402 people, 27,685 people received consultation. 19,583 city residents were consulted the treatment of the disease, just 13,639 had health insurance accounting for 70 percent yet only 4,985 used health insurance card. Though the city authority has adopted many … [Read more...] about HIV/AIDS infected people to have health insurance
Who treatment guidelines for hiv
Vietnam pilots HIV testing in community settings
Hanoi (VNA) - The Vietnam Administration of HIV/AIDS Control (VAAC) under the Ministry of Health (MoH) has unveiled a plan to pilot the community-based HIV testing and counseling programme from 2015 to 2017. The programme, from the fourth quarter of 2015 to the end of the third quarter of 2017, will be firstly implemented in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Dien Bien, Nghe An, and Thanh Hoa provinces to study the feasibility of community-based HIV testing models. Its goals are to increase uptake of HIV testing among at-risk individuals who may not have access to health services or hard-to-reach groups and develop a guideline for proper HIV testing and counseling in community settings. The ministry will provide training for non-specialist health workers and adopt a mechanism for coordination between community-based organisations and clinics that perform HIV confirmatory tests and those offering antiretroviral (ARV) treatment. A system for monitoring and evaluating the non-clinical HIV … [Read more...] about Vietnam pilots HIV testing in community settings
Former CEOs jailed for deforestation
Former CEOs jailed for deforestation Eight former officials were sentenced to between ten months' probation and three years in jail by the People's Court of Central Highland Dak Nong Province for causing the loss of over 1,300 hectares of forests. Than Van Minh, 70, former CEO of Quang Tin Forestry Co Ltd, received three years in jail, while Than Van Hoa, 39, former CEO, and Tran Van Loi, 48, former acting director, were given three years' probation. The other accused received ten months' probation. Of the 9,800ha of forests the company received from the provincial People's Committee in 2007, 1,300ha were destroyed due to mismanagement. The estimated damage was more than VND198 billion(US$9.5 million). Dong Nai fines two mining firms Two mining enterprises in the southern province of Dong Nai have been fined VND10 million (US$476) for not fulfilling their commitments to redress environmental damage caused by their activities. According to the provincial Department of Natural Resources … [Read more...] about Former CEOs jailed for deforestation
Social News 22/9
Vietnam promotes tourism in France A programme with the theme of "Hanoi - the cradle of cultural heritage" has been held in Paris in an effort to introduce Hanoi's and Vietnam's cultural essence as well as recent tourism policies. The event began with a screening of a video on the beauty of Vietnam and its people, followed by performances of Quan Ho folk singing and traditional musical instruments. Speaking at the ceremony on September 20, Vietnamese Ambassador to France Nguyen Ngoc Son highlighted the position and importance of the tourism sector in Vietnam's economy. The sector attracted eight million tourists in 2015 and targets to welcome 11 million by 2020, making up seven percent of the country's gross domestic product. He said Vietnam's efforts in recent years, including the 15-day visa exemption policy and the use of A350 plane on the Hanoi/HCM City-Paris route, made it more convenient for tourists to visit Vietnam. Do Dinh Hong, Director of the Hanoi Department of … [Read more...] about Social News 22/9
Social News 11/9
Modern hospital concerned about high operational costs, low revenues Administrators of Long Xuyên City's General Hospital, one of the biggest and most modern hospitals in the Mekong (Cửu Long) Delta region, are concerned about high operational costs coupled with low revenues just five months after the facility opened. Electric and water fees and hospital services such as security guards and cleaners account for the high expenditures. The hospital's director, Nguyễn Thị Hạnh, said operational costs total VNĐ10 billion (US$446,000) per month, not including doctors' and medical workers' salaries, while total monthly revenue averages about VNĐ9 billion-10 billion. The VNĐ1.3 trillion (US$58 million) hospital, equipped with 600 patient beds and modern medical devices, became operational in April. It includes a main 10-storey building and other building blocks covering a 4.6ha area in Đông Xuyên Ward, An Giang Province. The directorate is conscious to save electricity by shutting off … [Read more...] about Social News 11/9
Social News 18/8
Hanoi to pilot zany parking scheme Hà Nội's Transport Department will pilot a project on Dã Tượng Street allowing vehicle parking on one side of streets in the city, instead of both sides used now, according to the city People's Committee Chairman Nguyễn Đức Chung. Per the project, vehicle owners will be required to park on the side of the street with odd-numbered houses on odd numbered days and on the side of the street with even-numbered houses on even numbered days, according to the project. To handle the shortage of public parking spaces, Chairman Nguyễn Đức Chung said city authorities would discuss a scheme limiting personal vehicles and boosting public transport. Under the scheme, the city will build car parks and traffic signal systems amd restrict vehicles in the city centre at certain times. Hà Nội authorities have hired a Japanese company to design underground parking stations at August Revolution Square, in Thống Nhất, Thủ Lệ and Thanh Nhàn parks and Quần Ngựa Stadium. … [Read more...] about Social News 18/8
Social News 20/6
Nearly 74,000 volunteers join Exam Season Support 2016 The launching ceremony for the 2016 Exam Season Support campaign was held in Danang on June 18 with the participation of more than 3,000 young volunteers and students from universities and colleges in the central city. The programme is held across 63 provinces and cities with volunteers are ready to support exam candidates and their family members at 70 exam venues for university and college entrance exam and 50 venues for the high school graduation exam. Communications on the programme, training for volunteers and co-ordination among localities, student unions and schools hosting the exams have been deployed since early May. Around 1,876 volunteer teams with nearly 74,000 volunteers have been set up. The organising board has provided 13,000 T-shirts and caps, 710 umbrellas, 30,000 consulting manuals and 8,000 barrels of drinking water at supporting venues. Supporting activities will be held from June 28 to July 5, targeting … [Read more...] about Social News 20/6
Social Highlights for November 29
Dong Nai fines two mining firms Two mining enterprises in the southern province of Dong Nai have been fined VND10 million (US$476) for not fulfilling their commitments to redress environmental damage caused by their activities. According to the provincial Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, the violating companies are the Bien Hoa Building Materials Production and Construction Co., Ltd and Hoa An Company. Hoang Van Thong, Chief Inspector from the department, said the companies, which have been licensed to exploit stone at the Hoa An Quarry in the province's Bien Hoa City, had not planted trees as required, and failed to repair the local road after exploiting minerals at the area. The companies have been asked to restore the area's environment and transport all the stones they exploited. Local authorities have said they will close the quarry late December. Former CEOs jailed for deforestation Eight former officials were sentenced to between ten months' probation … [Read more...] about Social Highlights for November 29
SOCIETY IN BRIEF 17/2
Catholics promote patriotism, national unity Catholics nationwide continue upholding the tradition of national unity and promoting patriotic movements in 2012 and the following years. The statement was made at the third plenum of the Committee for Solidarity of Vietnamese Catholics (tenure 5) held in Ho Chi Minh City on February 16. The session reviewed outcomes of implementing the fifth Catholics congress for the 2008-2013 term over the past three years and passed an orientation and tasks for the following years. Patriotic movements among the Catholics have obtained significant achievements in economics, poverty reduction, charitable activities and the fight against social evils, contributing to the national socio-economic development. The committee and its chapters have launched many practical movements, specifying working programmes suitable for each locality. The committee will also make preparations for the organisation of the sixth Catholic congress, scheduled for … [Read more...] about SOCIETY IN BRIEF 17/2
SOCIETY IN BRIEF 5/11
Smoking causes 40,000 deaths, costs $1 bln Every year Vietnamese spend over US$1 billion on cigarettes while the country suffers 40,000 deaths from smoking-related diseases, the Medical Examination and Treatment Department reported. Besides, hundreds of thousands of others are treated for smoking-related diseases every year, it said. With 15.3 million smokers, or 23.8 percent of its population of 86 million, Vietnam is among the 15 countries with the highest smoking rate, Dr Luong Ngoc Khue, head of the department, said. A further 33 million people are passive smokers, with the exposure rates at home and the workplace reaching 67.6 percent and 49 percent respectively. The exposure rate is 70 percent among women and 50 percent among children. Cigarette prices in Vietnam are among the world's lowest, so many people get easy access, Khue said. The draft Law on Prevention and Control of Harmful Health Effects of Smoking proposes the tax rate on cigarettes be raised to 65 … [Read more...] about SOCIETY IN BRIEF 5/11