Reckitt Benckiser yesterday signed a memorandum with the MoH to launch the OSCAR project on the prevention of neonatal jaundice.

The southern province of Dong Nai, dubbed Vietnam’s capital of pig farming, announced on Wednesday that it would spend VND17.3 billion (US$768,800) to prevent the deadly African swine fever from spreading to the area.

The first HIV/AIDS case was reported in Vietnam 10 years ago, but received little attention. For a long time the disease was considered a private issue, but with the remarkable spread of the disease — and with its heavy impact on society and the economy — the epidemic has emerged as one of the biggest issues the country will have to face. Bich Ngoc reports.

Although the devastating effects of avian influenza have been limited to Southeast Asia, the disease could become a global pandemic. In light of the serious situation, international experts gathered at a three-day conference in Ho Chi Minh City last week to discuss long-term strategies for dealing with the disease.

Officials estimate that 45 new cases of HIV/AIDS are reported in Vietnam every day. No longer a disease confined to big cities and border towns, cases are being reported in every province, town and village, yet awareness of the disease in the countryside is poor with many authorities scared to even mention it. Bich Ngoc visits the northern province of Hai Duong to find out what is being done to educate those at risk and prevent the disease from spreading.