The northern province of Thanh Hoa took the occasion to present neighbouring Lao province Huaphanh with medical supplies required for the COVID-19 fight. (Photo: VNA)
Thanh Hoa (VNA) – The northern province of ThanhHoa and neighbouring Lao province Huaphanh exchanged experience in combatingthe COVID-19 pandemic in an event held at the Na Meo International Border Gate’sborder station on April 13.
Thanh Hoa took the occasion to present the Lao province withmedical supplies required for the fight, including ventilators, face masks andhand sanitiser, worth 1 billion VND (42,900 USD) in total.
Speaking at the event, Vice Chairman of the provincialPeople’s Committee Pham Dang Quyen said the province has established a steeringcommittee for COVID-19 prevention and control and developed scenarios inresponse to different scales of infection, planning how to put infected casesinto quarantine and zone off any outbreak cluster when it is small.
It has intensified communication campaigns to raisepublic awareness of preventive measures against the disease, such as wearing masks,properly washing hands and avoiding gatherings, and provided related training forlocal medical workers, he said.
The province has also set up monitoring groups at not onlythe provincial level but also in each village and street which are tasked toreport on returnees from pandemic-hit areas and those in close contact withinfected or suspected cases, the vice chairman added.
The COVID-19 outbreak is under control in Thanh Hoa, Quyencontinued, the province has so far quarantined more than 10,100 people andprovided coronavirus tests for 2,094 people over the last three months. Three infectionshave been confirmed, of which one was treated at the provincial generalhospital and fully recovered while the others were transferred to the NationalHospital for Tropical Diseases.
He suggested the two provinces increase information sharingabout the COVID-19 and enhance cooperation between their border districts toeducate people on precautionary measures and prevent illegalentry and exit.
Huaphanh Vice Governor Phusone Thammavisay, for his part,thanked Thanh Hoa for sharing experience and presenting medical supplies to theLao province. He asked the Vietnamese province to find ways for the twꦛoprovinces to resume trade at the Na Meo International Border Gate and sendmedical experts to Huaphanh to assist ൲its COVID-19 fight.
On the same day, ThanhHoa’s police force also shared experience in COVID-19 control with theircounterparts from Huaphanh and presented the Lao side with fivedisinfectant sprayers; 25kg of Chloramine-B, a disinfectant that cankill the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 on surfaces; 20 protective suits; 1,000masks and 100 bottles of hand sanitiser.
These activities havehelped strengthen the special friendship and solidarity between the Vietnamese andL🤡ao people./.
