Illustrative image (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – The US’s Kimberly Clark Corporation has partnered up with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in a project on improving health of newborns and reducing infant mortality rate in Vietnam’s northern mountainous and Central Highlands regions. In its announcement on December 12, the UNICEF said the project will be carried out in seven provinces, namely Dien Bien, Lao Cai, Son La, Lai Chau, Gia Lai, Kon Tum and Dak Nong. It will offer periodic training on newborn care to medical staff and work to improve pregnant women and children’s access to key health care services. Such activities are expected to directly benefit 265,000 newborns within three years and indirectly support over 1 million others each year. Managing Director of Kimberly Clark Vietnam Ashwini Nagpal informed that the corporation will provide 1 million USD over three years for the project. Over the past 25 years, Vietnam has … [Read more...] about US firm, UNICEF help improve health of newborns in Vietnam
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Vietnam, Belarus’s top legislators hold talks
National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan shakes hands with Chairwoman of the Council of the National Assembly of Belarus Natalya Kochanova in Minsk on December 12. (Photo: VNA) Minsk (VNA) – Vietnam and Belarus should work together to lift the two-way trade to 500 million USD to match both sides’ potential and desire, said National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan during talks with Chairwoman of the Council of the National Assembly of Belarus Natalya Kochanova in Minsk on December 12. Ngan is on her first official visit to Belarus from December 12 – 14. The Chairwoman of the Council of the National Assembly of Belarus said the Vietnamese top legislator’s visit will take the two countries’ long-standing friendship and multi-faceted cooperation to the next level. The level of mutual trade between the two nations does not correspond to their potential so the two sides need to further bolster cooperation in this area, Kochanova … [Read more...] about Vietnam, Belarus’s top legislators hold talks
UNICEF co-operates with company to improve children’s health in Vietnam
Kimberly-Clark Corporation yesterday announced its intent to partner with UNICEF to support initiatives that improve neonatal health outcomes in the rural mountainous and central highland provinces of north and central Vietnam and reduce infant mortality. At the signing ceremony. Photo by the UNICEF In the past 25 years, Vietnam has achieved significant progress in improving survival rates for children under five years of age, reducing from 52 to 21 deaths per 1,000 live births, between 1990 and 2018. Despite this progress, infant mortality rates in the North and Central Highlands remain high and in some provinces such as Lai Chau and Kon Tum, the rates are three times higher than the national average. The partnership, signed on December 12 at the UN House in Hanoi, commits to provide targeted support to 7 provinces - Dien Bien, Lao Cai, Son La, Lai Chau, Gia Lai, Kon Tum, Dak Nong. This will include interventions to help strengthen neo-natal health systems through regular … [Read more...] about UNICEF co-operates with company to improve children’s health in Vietnam
National transport strains under holiday rush
The upcoming National Reunification Day - May Day holiday (April 30-May 1) this year falls right after the weekend, so most people will have four whole days off work, prompting many families to either go back to their hometowns for a family reunion or travel to kick off the summer. Out of seats Having expected the rocketing demand for travel in the long holiday, transport providers tried to expand their services to prepare, but the situation is close to breaking point. Saigon Station Director Do Quang Van told the Thanh Nien (Young People) newspaper on April 26 that the station increased the number of trains by 30 percent, or 13,000 seats to the same period last year. However, trains running from HCM City to tourist destinations like Phan Thiet, Nha Trang or Quy Nhon on April 27 and 28 had only few dozens seats left as of April 26. Hanoi Station was in no better condition. A quick check on the online ticket selling site of the Vietnam Railways showed that four out of five trains … [Read more...] about National transport strains under holiday rush
Loopholes found in licensing for raising big-headed turtles
Big-headed turtles, or Platysternon megacephalum, is one of the most unusual turtle species in the world which needs conservation. However, due to legal loopholes, the turtles are being traded in the open air at licensed farms. Big-headed turtles are in serious decline because of the disappearance of primitive forests and excessive hunting for trafficking with other countries. The turtle is found on the IUCN 2017 list of endangered species that need protection, according to ENV (Education of Nature Vietnam). This endangered rare and precious wildlife species is also listed in Appendix I of CITES which comprises species in danger of extinction. In Vietnam, big-headed turtles are found in the northern provinces of Ha Giang, Cao Bang, Lao Cai, and central provinces of Thanh Hoa and Nghe An. The turtle has a very long tail (equal to the length of the whole body), and the head (covered with very hard keratin pieces) cannot be inserted into the shell the the upper jaw forms a hook. … [Read more...] about Loopholes found in licensing for raising big-headed turtles