Dust, pollution clog up HCM City

Pollution-related illnesses send thousands to the hospital.

HCM City residents travel on the Ha Noi Expressway, one of the city’s dustiest routes. — VNA/VNS Photo Thanh Phan

HCM CITY— Half the 1,000 patients visiting HCM City’s Ear-Nose-Throat Hospital daily suffer from sinusitis and rhinitis, thought to be caused by dust pollution.

Dr Vo Quang Phuc, deputy director of the hospital, said the number of patients suffering from the diseases was increasing year by year. He blamed it on dust and smoke, including vehicle exhaust and emissions from factories and construction works.

A recent survey by the city Environmental Protection Division showed the particulate levels at several city entrance points to be 1.5-3 times higher than permitted.

They include An Suong crossroads in District 12, Hang Xanh roundabout in Binh Thanh District, Phu Lam roundabout in District 6, the Dien Bien Phu-Dinh Tien Hoang intersection in District 1, six-road intersection in Go Vap District and Nguyen Van Linh Boulevard in Binh Chanh District.

Phuc warned that people frequently exposed to particulates could contract the diseases within six months.

Initially patients will sneeze, have a running nose and serious inflammation indicated by nasal fluids turning blue and aches around the nose.

Phuc advised patients with such symptoms to see a doctor immediately.

Since the nose has a complex structure of multiple cavities located beneath the skull and close to the ears and throat, the disease can spread easily.

The most severe complication that can arise is sepsis, which can even cause death, according to Phuc.

Dang Thi Hanh, not her real name, a resident of District 10, said she initially just sneezed but felt a pain in the nose for the past six months coupled with blue nasal fluids and breathing difficulties.

“Only after I went to the hospital did I realise I had serious inflammation,” she said.

Doctors said Hanh’s problem was due to prolonged inhalation of dust and smoke, which caused the mucous membrane in her nasal path to swell and obstruct breathing.

Nguyen Thanh Phong, a deliveryman in Tan Binh District who had similar symptoms, was diagnosed as suffering from chronic sinusitis and the infection had spread and caused his eyes to swell up.

Phuc said people frequenting the streets should wear respirators to keep out dust and regularly wash their nose with salt water to protect the mucous membrane. —

HCM City to host hundreds for int’l gymnastics event

HA NOI — Over 100 athletes from six local teams and 24 from Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia and the Philippines will compete in the Viet Nam Gymnastics Open, which take place at HCM City’s Lanh Binh Thang Gymnasium on August 28-29.

According to the organising committee, competitors will compete in gymnastics, artistics and aerobics events.

At the tournament, Vietnamese athletes will have a chance to hone their skills against fellow Southeast Asian opponents.

The Viet Nam Gymnastics Federation will invite international referees who are under the Asian Gymnastics Federation to supervise to competition.

The aerobics event will see athletes competing for medal sets in men’s and women’s singles, mixed doubles, trios and groups of six.

In gymnastics, male gymnasts will compete for individual, team and apparatus titles in floor exercise, vault, pommel horse, rings, parallel bars and high bars, while female gymnasts will compete in floor exercise, balance beam, uneven bars and vault disciplines.

Ribbon, ball, club and string artistic events is expected to be a tussle between Malaysia, Thailand and the hosts.

According to head of the General Department of Sports and Physical Training’s gymnastics section, Nguyen Kim Lan, gymnastics in Viet Nam is underfunded at the local level.

“Viet Nam is one the top countries in the Southeast Asia region, but we have problems recruiting gymnasts for the national squad,” said Kim Lan, coach of the national team because local sports departments are hesitant to fund the sport, as it would be costly and the athletes would not necessarily win medals in the near future.”

At the championships, the coaching board will recruit new faces for the national team to compete in international tournaments. —

Wushu artist Hoa takes home silver in combat

HA NOI — Wushu artist Luong Thi Hoa took home a silver medal in the women’s under 60kg sanshou (combat) category on the last day of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, yesterday, following 17 days of events.

Hoa, who beat Egypt’s Mohamed Abdelrazek Walaa 2-1 in the semi-final, could not defeat Iran’s Karimi Vardanjani Zahra in the final yesterday.

The medal was not counted in the final tally, as wushu, Viet Nam’s best event, was still only a demonstration sport at this year’s Olympics.

Last Saturday, other wushu artists, including taolu (performance) athlete Nguyen Huy Thanh and Nguyen Thuy Ngan, added two bronzes in the men’s jianshu (sword) and qiangshu (spear) combined and the women’s sanshou 52kg events, respectively.

The last hope of a medal for Viet Nam at Beijing, fell to taekwondo artist Nguyen Van Hung. He was defeated 1-3 by Nigeria’s Chika Yagazie Chukwumerije in the first round of the men’s over 80kg event last Saturday.

Hung had previously won five gold medals at the Southeast Asian Games and has now taken part in the Olympics twice in a row.

Viet Nam completed the Beijing Olympics with a silver medal, won by weightlifter Hoang Anh Tuan in the men’s 56kg category.

The results are reminiscent of eight years ago when taekwondo artist Tran Hieu Ngan won the women’s 57kg at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

Kudos

“I greatly appreciate the fact that Hoang Anh Tuan won the silver weightlifting medal. It’s an historical victory for Viet Nam at the Olympic Games,” said vice chairman and general secretary of the Viet Nam Olympic Committee Hoang Vinh Giang.

“Tuan was heavily invested in and well-prepared for the Olympics.

“I also feel sorry for the taekwondo artists, the medal hope of Viet Nam, for not taking home any medals,” Giang added.

Vietnamese athletes also worked hard in athletics and table tennis at the Olympics.

Top sprinter Vu Thi Huong, 22, finished eighth in the women’s 100m quarter-finals at the Beijing Olympics, clocking 11.70 seconds, not quick enough for a semi-final spot.

Table tennis player Doan Kien Quoc, 29, who qualified for the 2008 Olympic Games after winning the regional Olympic qualifiers in Singapore earlier this year, ascended to the second round after beating David Zalcherg from Australia, ranked 438th in the world, and French Christophe Legout in the men’s singles.

Quoc left the Olympics after losing to powerhouse Alexei Smirnov from Russia in the second round.

Viet Nam were represented by 21 athletes at this year’s Olympics, competing in nine areas: wushu, taekwondo, track and field, weightlifting, shooting, table tennis, swimming, gymnastics and badminton. —

Integration offers challenges, potential

HCM CITY — Lawyers will have to broaden their knowledge and professional ethics to keep their career development on pace with Viet Nam’s integration into the world economy.

“Viet Nam’s lawyers can now approach a new and potential service market thanks to the country’s accession into the global economy, to strong foreign investment flow and to diversified business forms,” said Ngo Thanh Tung, chairman of the law firm VILAF – Hong Duc during a two-day conference of the Presidents of Law Association in Asia (POLA) that ended on Saturday.

According to him, Viet Nam’s legal system has been improving as it brings itself in line with international regulations and practices in response to WTO membership. Along with increasing transparency, the reforms have created a more favorable working environment.

Moreover, customers increasingly require new services like business contract negotiations, help with business establishment procedures and exploration of new business opportunities.

New laws dealing with the environment or stocks demand lawyers expand their expertise to those fields, not just to legal issues.

Tung also stressed the importance of ethics in providing services to clients.

The legal environment, here and overseas, is in constant flux so lawyers must constantly be informed to best serve their clients, said Tran Anh Tuan, Vice President of the HCM City Bar Association.

Tuan cited four issues essential for lawyers: documents establishing the guidelines and legal frameworks for the economic integration promoted by international organisations like the UN or WTO, the latest international trade practices and procedures, information on the economic, legal, political and sociocultural characteristics of the countries where their cases are, and IT skills.

More than 80 delegates from international law organisations participated in the 19th annual POLA conference.

Participants came from 15 countries and territories, including China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Singapore and New Zealand, and international institutions.

Organised by the HCM City Bar Association, the two-day conference was the first of its kind to take place in Viet Nam. —

Capital sets up associations, support systems for disabled

HA NOI — The Ha Noi People’s Committee held a workshop on Saturday on the establishment of district-level associations for the disabled, in a move to create more favourable conditions for people with disabilities to integrate further into society.

Associations for the disabled would represent people with disabilities in all districts across the city, and work to help improve both their material and spiritual life, said head of the Ha Noi association for the disabled Vu Manh Hung.

These associations would work to ameliorate the living conditions of people with disabilities by providing vocational training and creating jobs, as well as enriching their spiritual lives through leisure activities such as sports and sight-seeing, thus helping them gain more independence and confidence in society, he said.

“I’ve never had the chance to join any associations for the disabled. My friends and I only gather together informally to meet and talk. We all hope that these associations will be set up and will help us to gain access to better job opportunities, public activities and individual assistance,” said Nguyen Van Ho, in Long Bien District.

The move was part of the capital’s plan to support people with disabilities during the 2006-10 period, which received the green light from the Prime Minister in October 2006, according to the municipal Department of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs.

The plan will focus on providing allowances, health checkups and treatments, education, vocational training and jobs for local people with disabilities.

Ha Noi is currently home to nearly 29,000 disabled people. —

Deluxe train rolls from City

HCM CITY — A new deluxe train, the second on the route, began running between HCM City and Nha Trang last Friday.

The Sai Gon Railway Company’s Blue Train has 14 coaches equipped with an LCD screen, air – conditioning and other facilities.

Tickets cost between VND175,000 and VND315,000 but the company is offering a discount of 25 per cent until December 15.

The train leaves HCM City at 8:05pm and arrives in Nha Trang at 5:12am the next morning. The return trip begins in Nha Trang at 6:10pm and ends in HCM City at 4:12am.

The train deployed on the route cost VND14 billion (US$875,000) to build.

Golden Trains, introduced in December 2007, was the first luxury train on HCMC – Nha Trang route. —

Judges select consultant list for Hoan Kiem Lake project

A view over Hoan Kiem Lake. The area is the centre of a new design project. — VNS Photo Doan Tung

HA NOI — Ha Noi People’s Committee has selected 10 design consultants to go through to the second-round of the competition to beautify the area around Hoan Kiem (Returned Sword) Lake.

According to the committee, these firms have met the financial and human-resource criteria set by the competition organisers.

According to the examination board, entrants’ plans must preserve and develop the historic, cultural and architectural integrity of Hoan Kiem Lake and its surroundings.

In addition, the designs should enhance the attractiveness of the lake and its environs, where festivals are often held.

“Our company which has operated as a design consultant in Ha Noi for 35 years, has entered this competition with the hope of being able to preserve the spirit of the architecture of Hoan Kiem Lake and its surroundings,” said Nguyen Trung Thanh, the deputy director of the CDCC Consultant Investment Construction Joint Stock Company.

It is our responsibility to contribute to enhancing the city, he added.

The 10 short-listed design consultants will have until January 1 to finalise their plans.

The Ha Noi People’s Committee has also identified certain areas around the lake – an internationally recognised symbol of Ha Noi – that need preserving.

The design project will centre on Hoan Kiem Lake and extend out to encompass the streets of Hang Gai, Cau Go and Hang Thung to the north; Hai Ba Trung Street to the south; Quang Trung, Nha Chung and Hang Trong to the west; and Nguyen Huu Huan, Ly Thai To streets and the Opera House to the east.

Among the sites that need preserving are August Revolution Square, State Bank Square, Ly Thai To Public Garden and Trang Tien, Dinh Tien Hoang, Hang Ngang and Hang Dao streets.

The consultants include the Ministry of Construction’s National Institute for Urban and Rural Planning, the 1+1>2 Group Company, the NQH Design Limited Liability Company, the Ha Noi Architecture Association’s CDCC Consultant Investment Construction Joint Stock Company and the Viet Nam Architecture Association’s Institute for Urban Study and Infrastructure Development.

In addition there are five joint ventures and foreign consultants: the MQLPAU and Partenm Company (a Vietnamese-Germany joint venture), the Nikken Sekkei Limited Liability Company of Japan, the LRC 54 Arqutectura SL Company of Spain, the PRA Phippe Rondeau Company and the Archetype Limited Liability Company of France.

The competition, which opened at the beginning of this month, will award $50,000 for the best design, $30,000 for the second best and $20,000 for the third best. —

Japan, Viet Nam students find access to education by sea

HCM CITY— The Fujimaru ship with 480 Japanese students aboard the ship has anchored in HCM City during the first leg of a training course spanning the waters along Viet Nam, Singapore and China.

The visit marks the strong relations between the young in Viet Nam and Japan, as the two countries organise a series of events commemorating 35 years of diplomatic ties.

The almost month-long training course, which started last Monday will end on September 7.

Participants were selected from 33 universities and colleges in the Japanese province of Hyogo to attend the US$2.5 million training course funded by the Hyogo provincial government.

Eighteen Vietnamese students were also invited to take part in the training course. All participants are attending seminars, and hearing lectures by Japanese and Vietnamese professors on history, culture, language and socio-economic development in Viet Nam.

During the two-day visit and homestay in HCM City, which ends tomorrow, Japanese students are expected to visit historical sites, museums and famous landscapes.

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Hyogo provincial government and HCM City People’s Committee, aiming to improve co-operation between the two sides, especially in regards to culture and the economy.

A musical performance with Vietnamese and Japanese artists will also be held in September. —

DNA cards to help locals detect disease

by Tran Quynh Hoa

HA NOI — People suffering from hereditary diseases may benefit from a DNA-testing programme that Viet Nam plans to introduce by 2010.

The programme, implemented by the Ha Noi-based Centre for Genetic Analysis and Technologies, would include ‘DNA cards’ that help in early detection of 10 of the most common hereditary diseases, said Le Dinh Luong, the centre founder and president of the Viet Nam Genetics Society.

“Each hereditary disease is a sign of one or more errors in DNA,” said Luong. “Today’s genetics technology can find these errors in each person, and warn them of the potential that they may acquire a certain disease.”

Luong said the programme would include personal DNA cards, which would be made following medical tests on patients. These cards will include advice on treatment and how to prevent or slow down diseases.

“DNA disease detection cards could be personalised to find remedies for each disease and each person,” said Luong.

“The final aim is to give an early diagnosis and improve prevention to boost living standards and longevity.”

The cards could even be used for three-month-old children in the womb. Obstetric experts said at this early period, doctors could take necessary intervention measures for disease treatment.

DNA, Deoxyribonucleic Acid, is the molecule that encodes the entire hereditary history of each individual, and it can be found in almost every cell in the human body. The DNA of every individual is so unique, that with exception of identical twins, no two people among the world’s 8 billion population have the same code.

DNA is usually obtained from a blood sample. Experts only need one third of a blood drop from a fingertip for analysis. A cell sample obtained from hair, fingernails or by using a cotton bud to wipe the inside of the mouth, also provide enough DNA data for the planned cards.

A DNA disease detection card is expected to cost US$1,000. However, Luong said the cost would quickly drop as new technology becomes available. A similar fall in costs had occurred with Viet Nam’s DNA identity card. Luong said current DNA identity cards cost about VND3 million ($187), 180 times cheaper than initially thought.

“DNA cards have become popular around the world, proving their obvious value,” said Luong.

“Generally speaking, Viet Nam’s DNA technologies can not catch up with world standards for the time being. But DNA technologies for identification and disease detection purposes in the country are very close to world standard.”

Nguyen Viet Anh, a Ha Noi resident, said he hoped DNA disease detection cards would be available soon.

“It’s very important. Some of my relatives have died of several different diseases,” said Anh. “I really want to know whether my children and I carry the germs for these diseases so that if they are in danger, there’s the possibility of early intervention.”

For Hoang Thu Hien, the cards were a fascinating thing but she would rather wait until their price dropped by five times to have it made for her.

But others are worried about a possible misuse of the cards once they are made available.

Phung Viet Dung said problems related to privacy could occur if DNA disease detection cards become widespread across the country.

“What would happen if the cards could not be kept confidential for some reasons?”

“Perhaps some couples who want to get married may require each other to show each other’s cards. And that may be the root of an unhappy ending for some.”

In some other countries in the world where DNA technologies are much more advanced, the issue of DNA cards have stirred endless debate.

The US, for instance, is seriously considering a national identification card containing the carrier’s DNA information after the September 11 attacks. The UK has also considered developing a national database containing DNA information on every person in the country.

Both plans have encountered strong opposition. Many Americans are worried that such a card system violated individual’s rights to privacy, while the UK’s Telegraph newspaper called the plan “an extremely intimidating prospect”.

Luong said there would be less opposition if the cards were issued on a voluntary basis. —

China helps Laos develop telecommunications system

– Laos and China have reached an agreement on the development of a satellite telecommunications system.

Under the space science and technology cooperation framework agreement, signed last weekend, China will help develop a telecommunications satellite, build an earth station and provide personnel training for Laos.

Besides, China will share information in earth observation, remote sensing satellite technology, and data transmission to Laos. The two countries also agreed to cooperate in exchange of satellite photos and development of a data decoding programme.

The Lao government expected that the development of the space science and technology would bring benefit for the country’s socio-economic development, helping develop telecommunications technology and supporting land survey in Laos.-