ID :
45933
Mon, 02/16/2009 - 20:06
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Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/45933
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Blood donors share and care for Valentine's
Hanoi (VNA) - Hundreds of couples gathered at Hanoi's My Dinh National Stadium on Valentine's Day to donate blood at the Xuan Hong (Rosy Spring) blood donation event.
There was a festive atmosphere at the stadium as crowds of young blood donors sang
and chatted, although one of couple was spotted comforting a young girl who looked
particularly worried.
This was the first time Nguyen Hong Lien, a 19-year-old student from the Institute
for Finance, came to give blood. Lien's nerves were placated by Le Dinh Duat and Le
Thi Kim Dinh, who have supported this movement for nearly 10 years.
The 67-year-old man and 63-year-old woman came to the event not only to donate
blood, but also to encourage others to join the cause.
"If you are scared of seeing blood, just close your eyes and think of the
patients who are facing health because of blood shortages. They need your help.
They need our help," said Duat.
"People who are in good health, especially young people, should consider the
humanitarian significance of this activity. A drop of blood is given, a life is
secured."
According to a report from the National Institute of Haematology and Blood
Transfusion, 1.6 million blood units are annually required to supply almost a
thousand hospitals across the nation. However, only one-third of demand is met.
Almost all hospitals are grappling with blood shortages that are getting more
serious, especially after the Lunar New Year festival.
To open the Xuan Hong event, Deputy Minister of Health Dr Nguyen Thi Xuyen said:
"During these warm spring days, there is a huge number of patients waiting for blood
to help save their lives. Many of them including children, elderly and people
suffering from fatal diseases, were unable to celebrate the Lunar New Year with
their families as it was really hard for them to recover due to the shortage of
blood."
"Xuan Hong is an event that's highly appreciated due to its lofty ideals that
stress the importance of sharing and caring. We hope that after this event, we
can partly overcome the blood shortage problem, and see more smiles from patients
when the spring comes," she said.
The event this year attracted 14,000 people donating 4,186 blood units (one blood
units equal 0.45 litres).
One of 500 couples to attend the blood donation event, Ngo Gia Hung, 22, and Nguyen
Thi Hong Nhung, 18, said giving blood was a beautiful way to celebrate their
love.-Enditem
TTA1602. New electricity rates 8.9 percent higher
Hanoi (VNA) - New market-based electricity rates signed by Prime Minister Nguyen Tan
Dung last Thursday will take effect on March 1 this year.
Decision 21/2009/QD-TTg states that retail sales prices of electricity, excluding
value added tax, will average 948.5 VND/kWh, up 8.92 percent over 2008.
Poor households and low-income families will be subsidised by the State.
This year, 35-40 percent of the prices for the first 1-50kWh used for daily life
will be subsided. Households consuming from 51-100kWh will be applied to all
consumers who use power from the national grid.
Rural power traders who could not sell electricity at the new prices due to their
conditions will be allowed to maintain their current prices of 700VND/kWh until
September this year.
Retail prices in areas still not linked to the national grid will be decided on by
provincial people's committees after submitting to the Ministry of Industry and
Trade.
From 2010, ceiling prices will gradually be applied to production and service
sectors. This will allow electricity companies to sell power at negotiated prices
below the ceiling prices under the guidance of the electricity regulator.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance
will adjust the power price every year based on the market.
The Industry and Trade Minister will approve prices that change less than 5 percent
from the average passed for the previous year. If the adjusted level is 5 percent or
higher, it will be approved by the Prime Minister.-
Enditem
TTA1602. Viet Nam bids to host AFF Cup in 2010
Hanoi (VNA) - Vietnam plans to place a bid as host of the 2010 ASEAN Football
Championship, said Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) General Secretary Tran Quoc
Tuan.
Tuan, who has been attending ASEAN Football Federation meetings in Kuala Lumpur ,
said that the plan was on the VFF's roster this year.
Vietnam won the AFF Cup, which was co-hosted by Thailand and Singapore last
year, after a 3-2 win in a two-leg final with Thailand .
It was a dream come true for Vietnam , after a 49-year wait for a regional gold
title.
Vietnam also successfully hosted a semi-final game with Singapore and a final
leg with Thailand at the AFF Cup last year.
In 2007, Vietnam co-hosted the Asian Cup with Indonesia , Malaysia and
Thailand for the first time and qualified for the quarter-finals.
" Vietnam will try to organise the AFF Cup to the best of its abilities if we
win the right to host next year," Tuan said.
Tuan added that the AFF would give a final decision , but that Vietnam was
still holding on to hope, as it had hosted the regional tournament twice in 1998
and 2004.-Enditem
There was a festive atmosphere at the stadium as crowds of young blood donors sang
and chatted, although one of couple was spotted comforting a young girl who looked
particularly worried.
This was the first time Nguyen Hong Lien, a 19-year-old student from the Institute
for Finance, came to give blood. Lien's nerves were placated by Le Dinh Duat and Le
Thi Kim Dinh, who have supported this movement for nearly 10 years.
The 67-year-old man and 63-year-old woman came to the event not only to donate
blood, but also to encourage others to join the cause.
"If you are scared of seeing blood, just close your eyes and think of the
patients who are facing health because of blood shortages. They need your help.
They need our help," said Duat.
"People who are in good health, especially young people, should consider the
humanitarian significance of this activity. A drop of blood is given, a life is
secured."
According to a report from the National Institute of Haematology and Blood
Transfusion, 1.6 million blood units are annually required to supply almost a
thousand hospitals across the nation. However, only one-third of demand is met.
Almost all hospitals are grappling with blood shortages that are getting more
serious, especially after the Lunar New Year festival.
To open the Xuan Hong event, Deputy Minister of Health Dr Nguyen Thi Xuyen said:
"During these warm spring days, there is a huge number of patients waiting for blood
to help save their lives. Many of them including children, elderly and people
suffering from fatal diseases, were unable to celebrate the Lunar New Year with
their families as it was really hard for them to recover due to the shortage of
blood."
"Xuan Hong is an event that's highly appreciated due to its lofty ideals that
stress the importance of sharing and caring. We hope that after this event, we
can partly overcome the blood shortage problem, and see more smiles from patients
when the spring comes," she said.
The event this year attracted 14,000 people donating 4,186 blood units (one blood
units equal 0.45 litres).
One of 500 couples to attend the blood donation event, Ngo Gia Hung, 22, and Nguyen
Thi Hong Nhung, 18, said giving blood was a beautiful way to celebrate their
love.-Enditem
TTA1602. New electricity rates 8.9 percent higher
Hanoi (VNA) - New market-based electricity rates signed by Prime Minister Nguyen Tan
Dung last Thursday will take effect on March 1 this year.
Decision 21/2009/QD-TTg states that retail sales prices of electricity, excluding
value added tax, will average 948.5 VND/kWh, up 8.92 percent over 2008.
Poor households and low-income families will be subsidised by the State.
This year, 35-40 percent of the prices for the first 1-50kWh used for daily life
will be subsided. Households consuming from 51-100kWh will be applied to all
consumers who use power from the national grid.
Rural power traders who could not sell electricity at the new prices due to their
conditions will be allowed to maintain their current prices of 700VND/kWh until
September this year.
Retail prices in areas still not linked to the national grid will be decided on by
provincial people's committees after submitting to the Ministry of Industry and
Trade.
From 2010, ceiling prices will gradually be applied to production and service
sectors. This will allow electricity companies to sell power at negotiated prices
below the ceiling prices under the guidance of the electricity regulator.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance
will adjust the power price every year based on the market.
The Industry and Trade Minister will approve prices that change less than 5 percent
from the average passed for the previous year. If the adjusted level is 5 percent or
higher, it will be approved by the Prime Minister.-
Enditem
TTA1602. Viet Nam bids to host AFF Cup in 2010
Hanoi (VNA) - Vietnam plans to place a bid as host of the 2010 ASEAN Football
Championship, said Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) General Secretary Tran Quoc
Tuan.
Tuan, who has been attending ASEAN Football Federation meetings in Kuala Lumpur ,
said that the plan was on the VFF's roster this year.
Vietnam won the AFF Cup, which was co-hosted by Thailand and Singapore last
year, after a 3-2 win in a two-leg final with Thailand .
It was a dream come true for Vietnam , after a 49-year wait for a regional gold
title.
Vietnam also successfully hosted a semi-final game with Singapore and a final
leg with Thailand at the AFF Cup last year.
In 2007, Vietnam co-hosted the Asian Cup with Indonesia , Malaysia and
Thailand for the first time and qualified for the quarter-finals.
" Vietnam will try to organise the AFF Cup to the best of its abilities if we
win the right to host next year," Tuan said.
Tuan added that the AFF would give a final decision , but that Vietnam was
still holding on to hope, as it had hosted the regional tournament twice in 1998
and 2004.-Enditem
