De-Mining Aid from US

The United States on Monday, October 1, presented de-mining equipment to Vietnam in a move Washington said demonstrates its commitment to helping rid its former foe of deadly mines and unexploded ordnance, known as UXO.

US Ambassador to Hanoi Douglas “Pete” Peterson handed over to senior People’s Army officers a kit including a mine detector, personal protective gear, and a global positioning system which symbolized Washington’s $1.8 million de-mining package.

“This is a very, very important moment in the relationship between the United States and Vietnam in our military opportunity to provide this equipment to the military of Vietnam.” Peterson said Vietnam faces an “incredible test” in clearing what may be as much as three million tons of UXO and mines.

“We welcome this goodwill action of the US government in helping the Vietnamese people overcome war consequences and in the process of consolidation of the two countries,” said Senior Colonel Dang Van Phuc, Commander of the Ministry of Defence Engineering Command.

Vietnam began clearing the explosives in the 1980s, while German and other aid groups have provided help since the 1990s. [Deutsche Presse-Agentur]

New York Life Wins Approval

US insurance giant New York Life opened its representative office in Hanoi December first, and pledged substantial long-term investment in the country as Vietnam and the United States forge closer economic ties under a recently signed trade agreement.

The firm’s investment schemes may be similar to those it pursued recently in India and China, where it invested in telecommunications, infrastructure, and water treatment facilities. “Economies that are growing and developing need a source of long-term stable capital where investors are not asking for their money back each and every year,” Gary G. Benanav, chairman and CEO of New York Life International said. He said New York Life’s presence would help create “deeper and broader financial markets here.”

Doctors of the World Announces New Project

Doctors of the World announces the opening of its project for maternal and child health services for ethnic minorities in Northern Vietnam and the appointing of Quang Ngoc Nguyen, DDS, MPH to the post of Project Director. The project aims to improve the coverage, quality, and use of services in Mai Châu, an impoverished mountainous district in Hòa Bình province.

Robert Kushen, Executive Director of Doctors of the World, notes that serious public health problems persist in Vietnam. These problems hit ethnic minority groups particularly hard, who are isolated linguistically and geographically and are at the bottom of the socio-economic ladder. Fortunately, the Vietnamese government recognizes the existence of this problem and has been fully supportive of the offer of assistance.

Doctors of the World will join forces with its affiliate Médecins du Monde-France, with local health officials to improve the qualifications and coverage of district health personnel at all levels, with an emphasis on training more female ethnic minority village health workers and midwives. The project will also implement a safe water and sanitation program in the district health system and develop the management capacity of district and commune health staff to meet community health needs.

“Priority health problems in Mai Châu include high rates of preventable illness in children under five – acute respiratory infections, diarrhea, neonatal tetanus, and malnutrition – and poor maternal and reproductive health,” said Liz Fabel, Asia Program Manager at Doctors of the World.

Project activities are designed to increase the representation of ethnic minorities and women in the health system, mobilize community participation, and make a sustainable improvement in the health status of ethnic minority women and children. For more information contact: Elizabeth Fabel, MPH Program Manager, Asia Doctors of the World-USA 212-226-9890, fax: 212-226-7026, fabell@dowusa.org. Dr. Quang Ngoc Nguyen, Doctors of the World-USA/ Médecins du Monde-France: Field Office: Hanoi, Vietnam 011-84-4-846-4688, fax: 011-84-4-846-4689, dow-mdm-vn@fpt.vn.