Japan and Denmark help Vietnam's healthcare and water supply
Ha Noi, Dec. 19 (VNA) --
* Japan Grants More than USD 67,000 to Upgrade Hospital in Bac Can Province
The Japanese Government will grant USD 67,357 as non-refundable aid to upgrade a hospital in Na Ry commune in the northern mountainous province of Bac Can.
Under an agreement for the project signed in Ha Noi on Dec. 18, the donation will be used to buy surgical equipment and instruments for the hospital.
The project will help improve the conditions of caring for the health of 570,000 people in the commune, 80 percent of whom are ethnic minorities.
* Denmark Provides USD 92 Million to Viet Nam's Water Programme
Denmark will offer DKK 742 million (USD 92 million) in non-refunadable aid to Viet Nam's water industry assistance programme for the 2000-2005 period.
The agreement for the five-year programme was signed in Ha Noi on Dec. 18 by Vice Minister of Planning and Investment Vo Hong Phuc and Danish Ambassador to Viet Nam Ove Ullerup.
Direct beneficiaries will be people living in the central provinces of Nghe An and Ha Tinh and the central highlands province of Dac Lac. Those living in the urban centres of Ha Long city in Quang Ninh northern province, Buon Ma Thuot city in Dac Lac central highlands province, and Da Lat city in Lam Dong central highlands province will also benefit from the programme.
The Danish funds will target institutional and human resources development, technical assistance, investment in water and sanitation infrastructure and equipment.
Viet Nam's programme aims to improve the quality of life and access to water and sanitation of some of the country's poorest people.
The programme will improve the environment by rationalising the management of water and land resources and provide assistance on the implementation of the law on water resources as well as training and support for the newly-approved national rural water supply and sanitation strategy.
It will also offer support to water resource institutes and research bodies.
The programme will centre on rural water supply and sanitation, starting in Ha Tinh central and Dac Lac central highlands provinces. It will also include work on urban water supply and sanitation, with an emphasis on the sustainable provision of services and a view to environmental, financial and social sustainability.--VNA
