Hanoi (VNA)♉ – A workshop on improving access to eye care services for people with disabilities took place in Hanoi on March 18.
The event was held by the Administration of Medical Examination and Treatment, the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IABP) and CBM International.
Speaking at the workshop, Head of the Administration of Medical Examination and Treatment Luong Ngoc Khue said an estimated 285 million people in the world were visually impaired. Of these, 246 million had low vision and 39 million were blind.
In Vietnam, about 1.8 percent of people over 50 are considered blind, Khue added.
It is forecast that the burden for eye care services will increase. The number of people with eye impairment will soon reach 8 to 10 million, including more than 600,000 people with blindness, he added.
Khue also said the Ministry has been developing a national strategy for the prevention of blindness that will be submitted for the Prime Minister’s approval. The strategy will give priority to eye care for people with disabilities, he affirmed.
During the event, northern Thanh Hoa and Son La provinces shared their experiences enhancing eye care for those with disabilities.
People with disabilities face many difficulties every day – not just in terms of language, communication and travel, but also with access to public services like healthcare.
Delegates at the workshop stressed the need to make healthcare services more accessible to people with disabilities, and help them get equal access to other public services, including education and transportation.-VNA
The Prudential Life Insurance Company signed a sponsorship agreement with the National Fund for Vietnamese Children (NFVC) on August 10 for better treatment of local children eyes.
About 3 million out of 22.7 million Vietnamese children are facing weak eyesight, while 23,000 of them suffer from bilateral blindness, representing the fourth highest rate in the Asian region.
Orbis, a US non-governmental organisation, will launch a project in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho and southernmost province of Ca Mau to offer care for visually-impaired children from 2016-2018.
About 200,000 children and elderly people in the Mekong Delta region will benefit from eye care services under a project to be carried out from 2016-2018.
More than 5,000 people gathered at Dam Sen Cultural Park in Ho Chi Minh City for the solidarity walk for victims of Agent Orange/dioxin (AO), marking the 64th anniversary of the AO disaster in Vietnam (August 10, 1961 – 2025).
The embassy advises Vietnamese citizens travelling in Greece that they should avoid standing close to cliff edges, boat sides, and refrain from going out to sea during storms to prevent unfortunate incidents.
Hanoi is advancing green transportation as part of its sustainability goals but faces challenges like limited charging infrastructure, inconsistent regulations, and high electric vehicle costs.
Vietnam has over 4.8 million people exposed to AO/dioxin, including hundreds of thousands in the second, third, and even fourth generations. Many live with severe disabilities, facing high medical costs and loss of earning capacity.
Deputy Foreign Minister Dang Hoang Giang reaffirmed that amnesty is a humanitarian policy of the Party and State, reflecting the Vietnamese tradition of compassion and winning attention and high praise both domestically and internationally.
Vietnam officially grants limited-term visa-free entry to high-profile foreigners whose presence is deemed beneficial to the country’s socio-economic development.
With support from the Vietnamese Association in Ufa, Vietnamese language classes for children have been offered for many years. Currently, 60 children of various ages are attending two classes taught by Duc Anh, free of charge.
Vietnam ranked among the top four countries and territories at the 2025 International Olympiad on Artificial Intelligence (IOAI), reaffirming its strong position in international academic competitions.
All 20 crew members aboard the Vietnamese oil tanker GT Unity were successfully rescued from a fire in the vessel’s engine room, thanks to the swift response of the Liberian-flagged ship Androusa and Vietnamese maritime rescue teams.
Describing Agent Orange as one of the most severe and enduring legacies of the war in Vietnam, Vietnam's former Honorary Consul to Belgium Joseph-Michel de Grand Ry warned that its impact – still affecting generations more than five decades later – could last another two to three decades.
Running from August 4 to September 2, under the hashtag #TuHaoVietNam, the campaign invites participants in two categories: “I Love My Country” video clips and “I Love My Country” check-in photos.
Decree No. 219/2025/ND-CP, which took effect on the issuance date, introduces amendments that integrate the procedure for reporting and explaining the demand for foreign workers into the process of submitting applications for work permits.
With a tight 13-month deadline, the move is under a strategic and urgent policy to bridge educational gaps, train the local workforce, and shore up territorial sovereignty in some of the country’s most remote areas.
The parade and personnel send-off ceremony will officially take place on August 10 at the area surrounding the Statue of King Ly Thai To and Dinh Tien Hoang street of Hoan Kiem ward, with the participation of nearly 3,000 officers, soldiers, and local residents.
According to national technical regulations, AIS installation is mandatory for boats carrying more than 50 passengers. However, operators of smaller vessels (under 50 seats) in Ha Long Bay have voluntarily committed to completing installation by the deadline to enhance operational safety.
The activities include a Vietnamese language teaching training course for overseas Vietnamese teachers from August 13 to 28 in Hanoi, Ninh Binh, and Thai Nguyen.
Specifically, the ships will carry out patrols from 7am to 6pm daily along the main tourist routes in Ha Long Bay, with one ship permanently stationed at Ti Top island. From 6pm to 7am the following day, the mobile vessels return to Tuan Chau island to maintain a 24/7 on-call duty shift, ensuring constant readiness.
The Ministry of Construction (MoC) plans to open to traffic 208km of expressways of six key projects by August 19, bringing the country’s total expressway network to 2,476km.
As of July 1, a two-tier local government model started in 34 provinces and cities, streamlining administration but creating a surplus of public properties. If not promptly addressed, these assets could become a financial burden.
Whether they grow up to become journalists, diplomats, or professionals in other fields, these children can one day become bridges of friendship and cooperation, telling new and inspiring stories of Vietnam – China relations, said Ambassador Pham Thanh Binh.
Illustrative image (Photo: VNA)
