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Hospitals Prepare to Treat New Year Road Accident Victims

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Hospitals in Vientiane are making preparations to treat the expected influx of patients involved in road accidents over the New Year.

Mittaphab, Setthathirath and Mahosot hospitals will have 24-hour emergency teams on standby to treat accident victims between December 29 and January 2, a hospital official said.

Deputy Director General of Mittaphab Hospital, Dr Tavanh Manivong, told Vientiane Times yesterday about their plans when giving a rundown of preparations in the lead up to the New Year.

Mittaphab and hospital networks are preparing medical staff and equipment in response to the expected surge in demand for services.

We have medical emergency teams on duty at all times so that we can provide good service, especially as the number of accidents is increasing each year, he said.

Last New Year Mittaphab had to handle about 400 road accident victims in just five days, which placed a lot of strain of doctors and nurses, he added.

On some days, we had to send accident victims to other hospitals because we didn’t have enough beds available. We believe the number of accidents could go as high as 800 this year over the same period.

Dr Tavanh said hospitals were partnering with the Foundation for Assisting Poor People of the Lao PDR, which provides aid to road accident victims and sends patients to Mittaphab and other hospitals nearest the scene of an accident.

He said that last year, doctors were sometimes unable to resuscitate accident victims because they were dead on arrival, the emergency team was busy with other patients, or there weren’t enough doctors on hand when casualties arrived.

Most accident victims are brought to the hospital at night, according to the Emergency and Critical Care Unit at Mittaphab.

According to the latest report from the Traffic Police Department of the Ministry of Public Security, there were 530 fatalities among 2,754 road accidents nationwide in the first six months of 2015.

Along with the 530 fatalities, 583 people were left in a critical condition, 1,716 were seriously injured and 2,022 people were slightly injured.

In addition, 189 vehicles were written off, 2,399 sustained moderate damage and 2,324 vehicles sustained minor damage.

Vientiane again the topped the list with 730 accidents, including 126 fatalities and 983 people injured. Some 1,400 vehicles also sustained damage.

 

Source: Vientiane Times

Gift Basket Sales Drop This Year

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Many retailers in Vientiane have seen a decline in sales of gift baskets during the year-end shopping season.

Gift baskets are top selling items among company staff and government officials who buy them to give to their customers and people held in esteem in the run up to New Year.

But vendors are struggling to make a profit this year.

We have been able to sell about 100 gift baskets during the end-of-year period, only half the number we sold last year, said shop owner Ms Ang.

This decline is part of a trend that has been observed over the past few years. The dip in popularity of the baskets has been attributed to the economic slowdown, the government’s policy of thrift, and the growth in the number of retail shops which is encouraging more people to spend their money on other kinds of gift, Ms Ang said.

I am one of the biggest retailers in the Dongpalan area but I have sold only about 100 gift baskets. Most of the buyers are businessmen and company staff and only a small number of customers are government officials, she added.

Her gift baskets range in price from 100,000 kip to 1 million kip depending on what kind of items the customer wants.

Another retailer in Xiengngeun village said she too was unable to sell a large number of gift baskets like she did last year.

Last year, she sold more than 100 of the brightly packaged baskets but this year had sold only 30-40.

I have no idea about the fake or expired products in gift baskets that many people have commented on, but at my shop we always check the goods before packing them into baskets ready for sale, the vendor said.

The Food and Drug Department under the Ministry of Health recently warned the public to be careful when buying a gift basket because some of the items it contains may be imitation or past the sell-by date. This may not be obvious because they will be mixed in with other items.

Out-of-date or imitation items could pose a serious health risk, a department official said.

Before New Year each year, health officials visit markets in Vientiane and the provinces to look for expired goods among mixed goods and gift baskets in the interests of consumer safety.

Health officials carry out inspections in cooperation with the Ministry of Industry and Commerce.

This year, they discovered imported products and foods that were imitation, such as frozen seafood, tobacco, and herbicides.

They also found that some of the products were past their use-by date and some had been mixed in with other products.

 

Source: Vientiane Times

Water Route to Sky Lake in Attapeu Remains Unexplored

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Attapeu province has yet to conduct a water route survey to the popular NongFa (Sky Lake) after the provincial governor approved a proposal some months ago.

Developing a water route to NongFa is considered to be the most comfortable way for visitors to access the site and also see natural forests and mountains along the river.

An anonymous official from the province told Vientiane Times on Wednesday that so far no work has been carried out to develop this water route.

However, we’ve heard that the local company that proposed the project is trying to find another company as a partner to help with the survey and development of the route to the lake, he said.

According to the provincial Information, Culture and Tourism Department, foreigners always ask to go Sky Lake when visiting the province.

The proposed route is about 50 kilometres long and it would take a boat about one hour to travel from Sammakhixay district to the lake.

Alternatively, the road route to the lake is about 170km long, but one section of about 70km is difficult to negotiate in the wet season.

The lake is located high on a hilltop and has very clear water that reflects the blue sky and resembles the sea in colour. It is believed the lake formed after a meteor crashed at the site hundreds of years ago.

The region is home to the Brao ethnic group, one of 11 distinct groups in Attapeu province. They typically build their houses on hilltops and wear elaborate bracelets on their arms and legs. They also cut their teeth, pierce their ears, and use animal tusks as earrings.

Attapeu province was chosen as Laos’ representative in The Cities of Charm’ pavilion at the China-Asean Exposition held in China in September.

The popular southern tourist attraction was featured during the event in a bid to promote tourism and city-to-city exchanges.

 

Source: Vientiane Times

Northern Laos Tops New Year Destinations

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LuangPrabang and Vangvieng district, Vientiane province and are the two main hotspots favoured by local and foreign holiday-makers looking for somewhere special to celebrate the New Year.

Meanwhile, Malaysia, Singapore and the Republic of Korea are the top overseas destinations where Lao people like to bring in the New Year, according to some local travel agents.

Vientiane Times asked several of the nation’s leading travel companies to gauge demand in the lead up to 2017.

A Northern Travel Laos official said local and foreign visitors both liked to tour the northern provinces over New Year, with the top destinations including LuangPrabang, Vangvieng, XiengKhuang province, and Vientiane.

Most foreign visitors that we deal with and arrange tours for in Laos are European. We also have customers from the USA, Australia and Switzerland, and some Asian visitors from Malaysia, the official said.

Normally, foreign visitors book their tour tickets in groups a few months in advance. Typically a group would stay up to three days in a destination or for one week in LuangPrabang, the official added.

NiyomChanmaly Travel Company told Vientiane Times that from the beginning of December the number of visitors from Thailand was up on previous years.

Vangvieng, LuangPrabang and Vientiane are especially favoured by Thai tourists as the top places for a holiday, according to the travel company.

Favoured activities by tour groups include homestays, visiting caves, and kayaking along the Xong River, with three day stays popular in Vangvieng and four days the norm in LuangPrabang.

According to Next Travel, Lao outbound travellers are increasingly looking to book an overseas destination to see in the New Year with Malaysia, Singapore and Korea the top destinations. Small tour groups of up to 10 people on a 5-6 day trip are the most popular.

Vientiane’s Northern Bus Station noted that passenger bookings so far seem not to have increased greatly compared to the previous New Year periods.

However, many bus companies have readied extra vehicles just in case there is a last minute rush.

Vangvieng is a popular destination for foreigners and local bus travellers on weekend breaks because of its many attractions and relative proximity to the capital.

 

Source: Vientiane Times

Top Ten Drug Trafficking Arrests in 2016

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Police nationwide are reporting an increasing number of arrests of drug traffickers as they intensify their efforts to curb the drug trade.

Heading the list of top ten busts this year was the seizure this month of over 100,000 amphetamine tablets, 2kg of opium, one brick of heroin and one small bag of crystal methamphetamine in Nhot-ou district, Phongsaly province. Police arrested Mr Khaechiem, 52, from Oudomsine village in Sing district, LuangNamtha province, who was transporting the drugs.

Second on the list, in November Bokeo police arrested Mr Maisengyord, 51, and his wife Ms Fong, 48, of Huaypheung village, Tonpheung district, after they found 12 kg of crystal methamphetamine and 42,000 amphetamine pills in their possession.

Third on the list, in October Khammuan police seized 30kg of cannabis and arrested Mr Kham-Aiew, 44, of Viengkham village, Pakkading district, Borikhamxay province.

In fourth place, 12 bricks of heroin were seized in August in LuangPrabang province. Police arrested MrYearthor, 28, of Chomchouk village and MrKuaha, 29, of Nalae village, both in Huayxai district, Bokeo province.

Fifth on the list, Oudomxay police in August discovered 60,000 amphetamine pills inside an unoccupied pickup truck and arrested MrChaiyang, 30, and MrXayngeunvang, 27, both of Nongbuadaeng village, Houn district.

Sixth, in August police seized over 2,000 amphetamine pills in Thakhaek district, Khammuan province and arrested MrSaengsavanh, 39, of Naheuang village, Khamkeuth district, Borikhamxay province and MrLertchai, 30, of Dongdamduan village, KaysonePhomvihane district, Savannakhet province.

Seventh on the list, in May, LuangNamtha police arrested two people from a neighbouring country and MrArtee, 28, from Chalernxay village in Long district, after finding 10kg of crystal methamphetamine.

In eighth place, in May Khammuan police seized 59,000 amphetamine pills and arrested MrTongkousong, 32, of Phonkham village, Phonhong district, Vientiane province.

Ninth, in April, following a crackdown LuangNamtha province, police seized 40 bags of precursor chemicals weighing 1,000kg and arrested three alleged drug traffickers from a neighbouring country.

Rounding out the top ten, in A pril Vientiane police seized 12,000 amphetamine pills and arrested Mr Souksavath, 38, of Naxamphan village, LuangPrabang district, LuangPrabang province; Mr Ounsaeng, 42, of Donxay village, Xay district, Oudomxay province; Mr Namnor, 42, of Naphork, village, Xaythany district, Vientiane; and Mr Khampheng, 48, of Nongmaengda village, Xay district, Oudomxay province.

 

Source: Vientiane Times

Pakxong to Become Champassak’s Second Largest Town

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The district of Pakxong will be developed into the second largest urban centre in Champassak province after Pakxe, according to a provincial official.

Champassak province has been undertaking groundwork to develop the town with Ho Chi Minh City of Vietnam creating a new urban plan for Pakxong to deal with its rapid economic growth and development.

Deputy Director of the provincial Public Works and Transport Department, Mr Bounnao Fongkhamdeng, told Vientiane Times on Wednesday that provincial authorities are preparing urban planning development proposals for the government.

Ho Chi Minh City devised a new urban plan for Pakxong as the existing one has not been updated for 30 years and it’s not appropriate for its present and future development, he said.

Vietnam funded the new design, aiming to develop trade, investment and tourism, but the money to realise the project will have to come from the Lao government, he added.

Champassak province is made up of the 10 districts of Pakxe, Xanasomboun, Bachiengchaleunsouk, Pakxong, Pathoumphon, Phonthong, Champassak, Soukhouma, Mounlapamok and Khong.

Ho Chi Minh City presented the new urban planning design to Champassak province on Monday at a handover ceremony attended by provincial Governor Dr Bounthong Divixay and former member of the Politburo and former Ho Chi Minh Party Secretary Le ThanhHai.

Surveys were carried out in March 2013 with the final plan completed in August this year.

At the handover, provincial governor Dr Bounthong noted that the plan for Pakxong allocated specific zones for commercial production, housing and public spaces along with roads, electricity and water supply infrastructure.

He urged provincial and district authorities to expedite their project proposals in order to request funding from the government.

Prime Minister ThonglounSisoulith highlighted the province’s strong economy on a visit two months ago but also emphasised five issues in particular.

He said Champassak needed to seek more investment from domestic and overseas sources for coffee and other farms on the Bolaven Plateau, which is part of Pakxong district.

Pakxong not only has a growing reputation for its crops and coffee farms, but also its waterfalls and other tourist attractions, which are drawing more visitors.

 

Source: Vientiane Times

PM Calls for more Proficient Workforce

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Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith has called for the workforce to be strengthened so that Lao goods and services can compete with those of other countries amid regional integration.

Mr Thongloun made the call yesterday in his address at the annual meeting of the labour and social welfare sector.

If we can’t produce a workforce that meets requirements in terms of both quantity and quality, and timely supply for employers, we won’t be able to prevent an influx of workers from other ASEAN countries, Mr Thongloun said, referring to the free movement of labour that is permitted within the ASEAN Economic Community.

He said the improvement of domestic labourers’ skills would be one way to prevent them losing their jobs. He stressed that the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare and related sectors would prioritise the comprehensive development of Lao workers in terms of skills, capability, discipline, and perseverance.

He reminded officials that employers often complain about Lao labourers not being dedicated to their jobs and taking time off at will. This common problem was frustrating for employers and harmed their business operations.

The premier said checks would be made on the implementation of the Labour Law, especially concerning the lowest wage policy and welfare issues.

Inspections were also called for by the prime minister to see whether the rumours that employers were giving their workers stimulants so they could work longer hours were true.

He asked the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Federation of Trade Unions to urgently look into the matter.

Regarding management, Mr Thongloun asked the ministry whether existing employment systems, such as job fairs, were satisfactory. He said he wanted to be sure that one business’s hiring of skilled labour did not affect employment in other businesses and that people were hired through a system of good cooperation.

Concerning the demand for labour, the prime minister said the Ministry of Education and Sports must investigate the needs of the various sectors.

The ministry reported that more than 132,000 people underwent skill development in the past year, and around 146,000 people found jobs.

The creation of trade union and Party organisations within factories and business units was raised by Mr Thongloun, who said these were compulsory. He referred to the situation in China and Vietnam, where such bodies not only protected workers, but facilitated business operations.

Laos is a destination for illegal workers from neighbouring countries. Numerous people from neighbouring countries come to Laos on tourist visas but stay here and open shops throughout the country.

Mr Thongloun tabled the prevention of illegal foreign labour migration for discussion at the meeting. He pointed to the growing number of foreigners who entered and stayed in Laos for a couple months but obtained a work permit after registering with the authorities and even a Lao identity card.

He called on ministries and local authorities to cooperate in addressing this issue.

 

Source: Vientiane Times

Rise in Vehicle Numbers at Boten Border

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The number of vehicles crossing the Boten international checkpoint between Laos and China in LuangNamtha province has been reported to have increased as of this week.

Usually about 400 cars and heavy trucks from Laos, China and other countries are crossing the Laos-China border daily.

Head of the management committee for the Boten international checkpoint, Mr Phonsay Chanthasone told Vientiane Times on Monday that about 500 vehicles were recorded as crossing the Boten border last week.

So far this week, Boten international checkpoint seems to be seeing about 1,000 vehicles crossing the border daily between the two countries, he reported.

Generally the border crossing sees 400 vehicles in a day but the recent increase has been attributed to the arrival of the first construction vehicles from China.

Many construction vehicles have been headed to LuangPrabang province from the Laos-China border in LuangNamtha province after the Laos-China railway was officially opened for construction on Sunday.

Mr Phonsay added that it is possible that the number of vehicles crossing the Boten border could rise to up to 1,200 vehicles per day during the period when the construction vehicles for the railway project are transported into Laos.

A railway bridge over the Mekong in LuangPrabang province will be part of the planned 417-km Laos-China railway running from the Chinese border to Vientiane through the four provinces of LuangNamtha, Oudomxay, LuangPrabang, and Vientiane.

Officials at Boten international checkpoint in LuangNamtha province are working hard to introduce measures to minimise traffic chaos at the crossing between the two countries as the Laos-China railway project commences.

Mr Phonsay Chanthasone told the press earlier this month that the Boten border checkpoint was being closed at 8:00pm but that when the 500 or 1,000 Chinese vehicles came to cross into Laos, the border officials planned to remain open until 10:00pm in a bid to reduce traffic congestion.

The construction of the Laos-China railway is good because it will reduce the number of vehicles being used for cross border goods transportation.

Right now, the roads in the country are quite small and their quality is not very high.

The total value of goods imported and exported via the Boten international border was estimated at US$86 million for the 2015-2016 fiscal year.

Officials reported that there are 250,000 people including tourists and traders crossing the border in a year.

Source: Vientiane Times

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