Over 800 children get free heart surgery

As many as 802 children have received heart surgeries for free thanks to a charity programmed entitled “From Heart To Heart”.

The programme was first launched in 2003 by the Vietnam Central Pediatrics Hospital to provide free operations for children born with heart deformities.

The programme was initiated by the Samsung Vina electronics company, which donated US$250,000 for the first phase from 2003 to 2007 and pledged to grant an additional US$300,000 for the 2008-2012 period.

VND17 trillion for hospitals project

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has approved a VND17 trillion (US$956 million) three-year project to build and upgrade clinic hospitals at the provincial and multi-provincial levels.

Funding will come from a VND14 trillion ($787 million) Government bond issue, VND2.2 trillion ($124 million) from local budgets and VND800 billion ($45 million) from other sources.

The goal is to extend health services nationwide between 2008 and 2010.

A total of 552 provincial clinic hospitals and 69 multi-provincial clinic hospitals will benefit from the project, with improved infrastructure and modern equipment.

In related news, the PM has approved an increase in health insurance subsidies for poor people by VND50,000 to VND130,000 per month.

Nationwide Hepatitis B vaccination recommended

More than 250 experts have recommended the nationwide use of the Hepatitis B vaccination to reduce cases of chronic liver inflammation, liver cirrhosis, and liver cancer at a scientific conference held May 9 in Ho Chi Minh City.

The vaccination should not only be given to babies but also adults, they said.

They also stressed the important role of contingency centers to reduce cases of the disease.

Dr Nguyen Huu Chi, deputy head of Isolation Faculty of HCMC University of Medicine and Pharmacy, said Hepatitis B treatment costs from US$6,000 – 18,500 a year and many patients could not afford it.

Hepatitis B vaccination is both effective and affordable, he said.

A recent survey shows that 15-20 percent of Vietnam population suffering from the disease.

Student of Vietnamese origin gets US Presidential scholarship

Elan Q. Nguyen, a student of Vietnamese origin who is studying at St. Stephen’s Episcopal School in Bradenton, Florida is one of the 141 US Presidential scholarship recipients for 2009.

Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, said that the annual scholarship aims to commend the most outstanding students in the US for their significant achievements in academic, arts and community-based activities.

Another ceremony to honour these students will be held in Washington from June 20-24.

Dog bites spark rabies fears

The rabies vaccine was given to five of 15 people bitten by four dogs in recent weeks in a commune in Lai Chau Town in the northern province of Lai Chau. The victims have been checked regularly by the commune’s medical station.

Authorities told residents to take the rabies vaccine if they are bitten and not to keep dogs inside their homes.

Thousands of large trees being pruned

More than 6,000 large trees on major streets in Ha Noi are being pruned to ensure people’s safety during the rainy season.

The deputy director of the Ha Noi Green Trees - Park Company, Nguyen Xuan Hung, said the company had felled 899 rotten or dead trees this year, and would prune another 788 in Hoan Kiem and Hai Ba Trung districts to minimise damage during storms.

People can call a 24-hour hotline on 397 64540 or 382 37114 to report fallen trees and those they consider may cause accidents.

PV

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