Woman runs

A woman in Bac Giang Province is calling for financial help to support her husband and two children who are all suffering from mental illnesses. Nguyen Thi Lien's family Nguyen Thi Lien's husband, Nguyen Van Thuan, suddenly became mentally ill nearly 30 years ago when their son, Nguyen Van Sang, was only one year old. Both of Lien's children were healthy at birth but after her husband became mentally ill, their children also showed the same symptoms and their health worsened over time. Her 32-year-old daughter, Nhung, is a single mother to a five-year-old baby boy. When Nhung had a fit, Lien would lock her in a cage. Nhung screamed non-stop and tried to destroy everything before she became tired and fell asleep. "Her fit passed," Lien said. "I'll let her out when she wakes up because I still need this cage for my husband and my son when they have their fits." Lien's daughter locked in a cage when she had a fit Lien suffers from various illnesses like degenerative spine, goiter and gallstones. She can't do hard labour anymore so she earns little income from collecting scrap. Lien said she had thought of suicide but she is the only pillar of the family and there is no one else to take care of her husband and children. Lien then thought of sending her grandchild to a social protection centre. "I thought of putting him up for adoption or sending him to social protection centre but it's hurt whenever I think about it," she said. Nguyen Van Trung, head of the Red Cross Organisation in Hiep Hoa District, said, "Lien's family is one of the most difficult cases in our area. We only can help them so much because of our limited funds. I hope they will get help to overcome such difficulties." If you can help please donate through: 1. Code 4040: Nguyen Thi Lien from An Hoa Village, Doan Bai Commune, Hiep Hoa District, Bac Giang Province. Tel: 0389615523 2. Dantri/DTiNews No. 2/48 Giang Vo Str., Dong …

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Vietnam begins COVID-19 vaccination on March 8 Vietnam launches its COVID-19 inoculation drive on March 8 morning, administering the AstraZeneca vaccine to medical workers in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and northern Hai Duong province – the country’s biggest pandemic hotspot at present. The vaccination is conducted at the Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Hanoi, the HCM City Hospital for Tropical Diseases and two medical centres in Hai Duong. As many as 100 staff members of the Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases are expected to receive the shots in the morning of March 8. The hospital is allocated 450 doses among the first batch of 117,600 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine the country has received. In Hai Duong, 50 medical workers at Hai Duong city’s medical centre, and 30 others at Kim Thanh district’s medical centre will be the first in the province to be injected. The Ministry of Health has allocated the vaccine to 13 localities, along with the Ministry of National Defence, the Ministry of Public Security and 21 hospitals during the first phase. Among the localities, all having reported COVID-19 cases since the latest wave of outbreaks since January 27, the Hanoi Centre for Disease Control (CDC) is given 8,000 doses, Hai Duong CDC 32,000, and HCM City CDC 8,000. Meanwhile, the Ministry of National Defence and the Ministry of Public Security each receive 30,000 doses. At a meeting on March 6, Health Minister Nguyen Thanh Long stressed the need to ensure equality in vaccine access as suggested by the WHO, UNICEF and COVAC. The localities excluded in the first phase should continue to prepare for the inoculation, with training programmes, he said, adding that they would receive the vaccine after the next shipment arrives in Vietnam in March. The ministry will roll out the vaccination in all COVID-19 treatment hospitals, prioritising those involved in frontline work, and those who participate in the pandemic combat in the community like …

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A British man in Hanoi has set up a charity group to help homeless people overcome difficulties. Christopher Axe The Help Hanoi's Homeless Club gathered on Thursday every week in front of Hanoi Railway Station to prepare food and other necessities before they spread out to the streets. The club was set up four years ago by Christopher Axe. Axe said that their presence on the streets would be some help for the homeless who are bullied, robbed and abused by other people. He hoped they could encourage other people to do the same to help homeless people. One of the most memorable cases was when Axe met a grandmother and her grandchild. Before the club members arrived, someone poured hot water on the grandmother and scared the grandchild. Luckily, the group carried medicine with them. Axe tried to soothe the girl and asked her to make some animal noises. Meeting at Hanoi Railway Station As of now, the grandmother and her grandchild were admitted to a social protection centre and the girl is able to go to school and became more confident. When she met Axe occasionally, she was happy and made the animal noises they used to make. Axe said they all felt happy to be able to help them for a long time and gain their trust. Even though the club could help homeless people with some minor health problems but they couldn't do anything if their health turned worse. Because of Covid-19 pandemic, the club has to travel in small groups of less than four people, wear face masks and have hand wash. They also made plans and contacted firms for help. If Hanoi is locked down again, Axe said, he would tell people in need to come to him and give them enough food, face masks, hand wash and clothes for a week. Some people had come to him for help during the previous outbreak. Not only did they receive help, but they were also told to return when things ran out. Helping the homeless Axe said it broke his heart when he …

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