COVID-19

When WE dance in the rain

“Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass, it’s about learning to dance in the rain”, this saying can apply to many incidents in our life, including the fight against COVID-19.

This is a garment manufacturing group of Tan Thieng commune, Cho Lach district, the Mekong delta province of Ben Tre. The group is one of the 19 cooperative groups financially supported as part of the Women Empowerment programme (WE), implemented by MCNV.

Founded in January 2019, the group has created job for 20 members, generating monthly income of around VND 3-4 million for each. The main products of the group are female clothings and beddings. Workers can choose to work full-time or part-time, work at the group’s facility or work from home.

Besides its flexibility, garment manufacturing is considered a safe choice of occupation (not depends on the nature) in the context of climate change and salt intrusion, which are getting more severe in Ben Tre.

In the first half of 2020, due to COVID-19, the group’s production was suspended for over 2 months. Nonetheless, instead of wasting time on feeling sorry for themselves, they took this chance to contribute to the community by making face masks. The fabric were provided by the commune authorities while the leader of the group, Ms.Nguyen Thi Ngoc Yen, used her pocket money to sponsor wage for the workers.

In March and April, 10,000 masks were produced and distributed as the gift of care to residents in the commune, the district, of which 5,000 were donated to local schools.

To acknowledge their dedication to the fight against COVID-19, Ben Tre provincial Women’s Union recently awarded Tan Thieng garment manufacturing group with the Certification of Recognition.

COVID-19 is now contained in Vietnam, and the group production has been restored since June. They are putting even more efforts in their works, which beautifies others  and brighten their future, at the same time.

– Stay tuned for further update!

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Medical Committee Netherlands-Vietnam contributes to COVID-19 fight in Quang Tri

(VNT) – The Medical Committee Netherlands-Vietnam (MCNV) presented assistance totaling VND 13 million (USD 558) to the central province of Quang Tri to help them effectively fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Several MCNV’s projects are being carried out in Huong Hoa district (Quang Tri), adjacent to the Vietnam – Laos border. Due to heavy traffic across the border lines, the locality is at high risk of COVID-19 transmission.

Strengthening border security is one of the key measures adopted by local authorities in order to eliminate this risk.

Recently, a donation of VND 12 million (USD 515) was handed to two border guard posts in Huong Hoa district. The cash was spent on necessity supplies for the teams such as vitamin C effervescent drink, dried food, drinking water and instant coffee.

At the same time, responding to the call for supports of Quang Tri province, MCNV Central Vietnam office donated VND 1 million (USD 43) to the province via the provincial Department of Foreign Affairs.

Founded on November 18, 1968 by a team of dedicated Dutch doctors, MCNV aimed to deliver the aid from Netherland to Vietnam, to support the country’s resistant war through the sponsorship of medical supplies, hospital building, tuberculosis, malaria prevention, etc.

MCNV has diversified its fields of operation, together joining hands with Vietnam in developing the country’s economy with various projects in improving the livelihood of people in poor regions, gender equality, rehabilitation for the handicapped, reproductive health education, among others.

In 2018, MCNV marked its memorable 50th birthday with the fourth time receiving the Friendship Order of the State President to acknowledge the organization’s contribution to Vietnam in the last five decades./.

(Hannah Nguyen – The Vietnam Times)

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Guidance on stopping the spread of COVID-19

Vietnam’s latest guidance on stopping the spread of COVID-19 is now available in English.

Issued by the Ministry of Health of Vietnam on March 19, the series gives detailed instruction on self-isolation, centralized-isolation and preventative measures.

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Vietnam suspends visas for foreign travellers starting March 18

In light of coronavirus spread concerns, Vietnam will temporarily suspend visa issuance for foreigners entering the country for a period of 30 days starting Wednesday (March 18).

More information:

https://vietnamnews.vn/society/653733/viet-nam-suspends-visas-for-foreign-travellers-starting-wednesday.html

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