Deputy Minister of Labor, War Invalids, and Social Affairs Nguyen Thi Ha shared Vietnam’s plans to eradicate child labor at a conference in South Africa on Tuesday. At the fifth Global Conference on the Elimination of Child Labor in Durban, South Africa, Ha spoke about the pivotal role that childhood education plays in reducing the risk of children leaving school to find work. Currently, about 94.4 percent of Vietnamese children have access to education thanks to government policies to make primary and secondary education compulsory, eradicate illiteracy, and reduce or exempt tuition fees for poor, disabled, ethnic minority, and underprivileged children. The Vietnamese government also has policies which help these marginalized groups gain access to health insurance and other social welfare programs. Currently, Vietnam is cooperating with other entities, such as the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and the International Labor Organization (ILO) to … [Read more...] about Vietnam’s next steps in the fight to eradicate child labor
Health insurance
Former deputy health minister jailed in fake cancer drug scandal
Cuong was sentenced by the Hanoi’s People Court after being charged with "negligence that results in serious consequences". He is also forbidden from holding positions in the field of medicine for three years after finishing his sentence. Nguyen Minh Hung, former chairman of the management board of pharmaceutical firm Vietnam Pharma JSC, received 18 years in jail for "manufacturing and trading of counterfeit medicines for treatment or prevention of diseases". Hung had been sentenced to 17 years under the same charge at another trial over the case in 2019. His cumulative years to spend in prison will be 30 years, the maximum number of jail time for combined timed sentences in accordance with Vietnamese law. 12 others convicts related to the cases were also sentenced to between 2-20 years in jail. The sentences were the latest development in a counterfeit drug case involving Vietnam Pharma and the fake drug branded Health 2000 Canada. Cuong stands accused of violations that allowed … [Read more...] about Former deputy health minister jailed in fake cancer drug scandal
Disadvantaged people have their health checked
The event was part of the activities to mark the 132nd birthday of President Ho Chi Minh and to respond to Humanitarian Month in 2022 launched by the municipal Red Cross Society. The healthcare activity was part of the efforts of the municipal Red Cross Society to help disadvantaged people, including those with disabilities and needy people have access to healthcare services. By giving free health check-ups and consultation, the program was expected to raise people’s health and living standards. During the program, 200 people had their health checked by doctors and nurses. They also received gifts, worth VND 800,000 each, and free medicine. All the gifts were sponsored by Cot Hai An Co., Ltd., FACARE International Medical Technology Joint Stock Company, and the Red Cross societies of Cau Giay and Hai Ba Trung districts. At the event, participants expected that more similar activities will be held for the disadvantaged people. Joining an humanitarian activity for the first time, … [Read more...] about Disadvantaged people have their health checked
Conference discusses Public-Private Partnerships in healthcare
A panel discussion at the conference on strengthening ‘Public-Private Partnership for sustainable healthcare transformation’ in Hanoi on May 18. (Photo: VNA) Opening the event, the newspaper's editor-in-chief Le Trong Minh said that Vietnam's health sector faced many challenges, such as increasing infectious and non-communicable diseases, hospital overcrowding, shortage of supplies and equipment, the ageing population as well as the disparity between regions and healthcare levels in terms of quality of medical services and standardisation of modern equipment. “For the health system to be capable and always ready to respond to future situations, towards a comprehensive and sustainable health care system, it is necessary to have new investment orientations in social resources for the health system, as well as stronger cooperation from the parties involved, including the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) method,” said Minh. At the event, MPI deputy minister Tran Duy Dong said it … [Read more...] about Conference discusses Public-Private Partnerships in healthcare
Vietnamese consumers’ growing interest in Australian F&B products
Shannon Leahy, trade commissioner for Austrade, and general director of BRG Retail Nguyen Thi Thanh Thuy. Photo: Austrade Australia is one of Vietnam’s major suppliers of beef ad lamb products. Local consumers can enjoy a growing range of Australian products from fresh fruits, dairy, seafood, and beverages including a diverse range of sparkling, red, and white wines. Cherries, citrus, table grapes, milk, yoghurt, cheese, cereals, juices, rock lobsters, and abalone are just some of the beloved Australian products that have made it into Vietnamese stores, restaurants, and homes. General director of BRG Retail Nguyen Thi Thanh Thuy said, “Vietnamese consumers increasingly demand clean, fresh, and delicious products with premium quality and transparent origins regardless of if they are eating out or at home. Australian suppliers can offer exactly what they want, including high-quality sustainable meat, delicious fruits, the finest dairy and cereals, and premium seafood … [Read more...] about Vietnamese consumers’ growing interest in Australian F&B products
Pollution killing 9 million people a year, Africa hardest hit: study
Worsening outdoor air pollution and toxic lead poisoning have kept global deaths from environmental contamination at an estimated 9 million per year since 2015 – countering modest progress made in tackling pollution elsewhere, a team of scientists reported Tuesday. Air pollution from industry processes along with urbanization drove a 7% increase in pollution-related deaths from 2015 to 2019, according to the scientists’ analysis of data on global mortality and pollution levels. "We're sitting in the stew pot and slowly burning," said Richard Fuller, a study co-author and head of the global nonprofit Pure Earth. But unlike climate change, malaria, or HIV, "we haven't given (environmental pollution) much focus." An earlier version of the work published in 2017 also estimated the death toll from pollution at roughly 9 million per year — or about one of every six deaths worldwide — and the cost to the global economy at up to $4.6 trillion per year. That puts pollution on par with … [Read more...] about Pollution killing 9 million people a year, Africa hardest hit: study
Startup sales mushroom as they adapt to ensure survival
Vegetarian food Smiling Mushroom's customers are urban, high-income consumers, 85 percent of them women. The company has launched distinctive products, such as plant-based meat and food made from mushroom protein, targeting 20-55 vegetarians and dieters concerned about their health and the environment. Emmay’s distribution strategy is both B2B and B2C, via both online and offline channels. So far, the company has established 230 retail points, seven distributors and compiled 800 end-consumers data. A product of the Emmay and Colleagues JSC Its products are currently distributed at big supermarkets, such as Aeon Mall, Saigon Coop or BigC, and at about 200 clean food outlets. Eighty percent of the company’s revenue is derived from wholesale distributors and supermarkets. According to Smiling Mushroom CEO, the brand is still in the early stages of food substitutes for animal meat, making it 50 to 70 percent more expensive than animal meat. For example, a 200-gram bag … [Read more...] about Startup sales mushroom as they adapt to ensure survival
Vietnam, Singapore parliaments ink agreement to boost cooperation
The visit paid by the Singaporean parliament speaker is aimed to realize the agreement reached by the countries’ top leaders during Vietnamese President Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s visit to the neighboring country in February 2022. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) on enhancing relations, exchanges, and cooperation between Vietnam’s National Assembly (NA) and the Parliament of Singapore was signed during the three-day visit to Hanoi paid by Speaker Tan Chuan-Jin, his first official visit to Vietnam beginning on May 18. Chairman of Vietnam's National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue (R) and Speaker of the Parliament of Singapore Tan Chuan-Jin in Hanoi on May 18. Photos: Quochoi During the visit made at the invitation of Chairman of Vietnam's National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue, the two legislative bodies also supported the signing of an MoU on cybersecurity, mutual legal assistance, and trans-border crime prevention. They argued that the legislative connection is an extremely … [Read more...] about Vietnam, Singapore parliaments ink agreement to boost cooperation
Việt Nam records 1,716 new COVID-19 transmissions on Thursday
A health worker collects samples for testing. — VNA/VNS Photo HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam reported 1,716 new COVID-19 infections on Thursday, bringing the national total to 10,704,524, according to the Ministry of Health. There was one imported case. Hà Nội still topped the list of new transmissions with 381, followed by the central province of Nghệ An with 126. The other areas that recorded cases were Phú Thọ (111), Vĩnh Phúc (83), Yên Bái (66), Quảng Ninh (64), Tuyên Quang (63), Quảng Bình (53), Bắc Kạn (51), Hải Dương (49), Sơn La (48), HCM City (46), Thái Bình (43), Thái Nguyên (42), Lào Cai (41), Hải Phòng (31), Đà Nẵng (30), Nam Định (29), Hưng Yên (27), Ninh Bình (27), Lâm Đồng (24), Hà Nam (23), Hà Giang (22), Lai Châu (21), Bình Dương (20), Hòa Bình (20), Quảng Trị (18), Lạng Sơn (17), Cao Bằng (15), Bình Phước (15), Thanh Hóa (13), Bà Rịa-Vũng Tàu (12), Bình Thuận (11), Đắk Nông (11), Gia Lai (10), Điện Biên (10), Bình Định (7), Bến Tre (7), Bắc Giang (6), Quảng … [Read more...] about Việt Nam records 1,716 new COVID-19 transmissions on Thursday
Non-elite athletes run in SEA Games ‘companion marathon’
HÀ NỘI— More than 200 non-professional athletes took part in the ongoing SEA Games 'companion marathon' in Hà Nội this morning. Nông Thị Chang for the women and Vũ Đình Duân for the men took first place. Meanwhile, Hoàng Thị Hồng Uyên and Nguyễn Phan Thùy Vân came second and third in the women's event, and Đặng Anh Quyết and Võ Cao Thiện came second and third in the men's. They ran alongside athletes representing countries participating in the marathon at the Games. Nông Thị Chang won first place in the women's non-elite section of the marathon, which took place in Hà Nội. Photo courtesy of VPBank Hanoi Marathon They were among 200 amateur runners selected from three leading prestigious non-professional races such as the VPBank Hanoi Marathon, the Tien Phong Marathon and the Salonpas HCM City Marathon. The non-elite athletes participating in the 'running in companion' marathon started on the same track reserved for international athletes and organised according to SEA … [Read more...] about Non-elite athletes run in SEA Games ‘companion marathon’