The northern province of Ninh Binh has spent 11.17 billion VND (532,000 USD) on a sea and island health care development programme with the aim of ensuring coastal and island residents to access health care services.

It was part of the Vietnam Sea and Island Health Development plan to 2020, which was launched in February, 2013.

Vice Chairman of the Ninh Binh People’s Committee Le Van Dung said from now to the end of next year the programme covers the organisation of five training courses to provide basic knowledge and skills on first aid at sea for about 40 percent of those who work in ships and the provision of medicine chests for 50 vessels.

Three medical stations in coastal communes will be equipped with medical tools and three others will be upgraded, he added.

Besides, the province has ensured health insurance for people and improved its medical check-up and treatment capacity while providing basic knowledge for communal medical workers and fishermen.

Ninh Binh has six coastal communes, namely Kim Dong, Kim Trung, Kim Hai, Kim Tan, Kim My and Con Thoi of Kim Son district. The district has set up a remote health service called telemedicin, and equipped 145 vessels with medicine chests.-VNA