Products from endangered pangolins have no medical benefits
The traditional use of pangolin scales to treat blocked milk ducts is touted by a number of websites online, but doctors of traditional medicine said scientific research proves that it is ineffective.
HCM City (VNA) - The traditional use of pangolin scales to treatblocked milk ducts is touted by a number of websites online, but doctors oftraditional medicine said scientific research proves that it is ineffective.
In the past, scales from pangolins, the world’s most traffickedwild mammal, were used in Vietnam for medical treatment, but there is noevidence to support it, Dr Nguyen Thi Bay, former head of HCM CityUniversity of Medicine and Pharmacy’s Traditional Medicine Faculty, said at a recent workshop on the medical value of pangolin scalesheld in Ho Chi Minh City.
Students of traditional medicine at Vietnamese universities arenow taught that pangolin scales are ineffective and that bo conganh (scientific name of Lactuca indica), and Indian camphorweed shouldbe used instead.
Dr Le Hung, Chairman of HCM City Traditional Medicine andAcupuncture Hospital, said that advertisements often falsely claimed thatpangolin scales can treat cancer and diabetes in addition to improving maleenergy and vitality.
In the past decade, one million pangolins were hunted and soldworldwide, leading to a decline in pangolin population, according to theworkshop’s organisers - the Centre of Hands-on Action and Networking forGrowth and Environment (CHANGE), in co-operation with WildAid, a USenvironmental organisation.
Vietnam and China lead the global demand for pangolins, theyreported.
In the world, eight species of pangolin are on the edge of extinction. The Asian pangolin population plummeted by 80 percent in just 21years. Vietnam’s two species, the Chinese and Sunda pangolin, arecritically endangered.
Last July, Vietnam raised the penalty for illegal huntingand trading in pangolin to 15 years in prison. Government agencies in recent years have strengthened theirinspections and seized trafficked pangolins. In the past 10 years, the country’s authorities seized 54.8 tonnesof pangolins and 14.7 tonnes of scales.-VNA
All eight species of pangolins are on the brink of extinction, and two out of the four species in Asia are on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)’s red list of endangered species
The Wildlife Research and Conservation Centre (WRCC) and Cuc Phuong National Park have recently successfully released 46 Javan pangolins into the wild.
Save Vietnam’s Wildlife (SVW) has kicked off a project named “Green Childhood” for nearly 1,200 kindergarten kids in Nho Quan town, the northern province of Ninh Binh.
The programmes have brought about positive changes to rural infrastructure, comprehensively improved the material and spiritual lives of farmers, and contributed to Vietnam's economic restructuring, said PM Pham Minh Chinh.
The festival highlighted the contributions and robust development of Vietnam's revolutionary press over the past century while promoting press products and showcasing the creativity of Vietnamese journalists.
The programme on sustainable poverty reduction has achieved its annual targets for reducing the poverty rate as assigned by the National Assembly and the Government. It has fulfilled five specific objectives and five five-year goals, and met nine out of 12 indicators related to addressing basic social service shortages.
UNICEF stands ready to support the Government in implementing this important law and in continuing to invest in teachers as the cornerstone of a resilient, inclusive, and high-quality education system for all children.
PM Pham Minh Chinh highlighted how Vietnam's revolutionary press has continuously evolved and strengthened over the past century, affirming its role as a sharp and vital political, cultural, and ideological weapon serving the Fatherland and the people in the glorious revolutionary cause of the Party.
Vietnamese Consul General in Fukuoka Vu Chi Mai highlighted the growing demand for Vietnamese workers in Kyushu, especially in Fukuoka, Oita, and Saga prefectures. Currently, the region employs about 35,000 Vietnamese manual workers and over 5,000 IT engineers.
In Vietnam’s case, she said, President Ho Chi Minh demonstrated his strategic vision by founding the revolutionary press a century ago. The late leader understood the press's role not only as a means to reflect the country’s realities but also as a powerful tool to strengthen national unity and inspire the resistance wars and national construction process.
In recent interviews granted to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA)'s reporters in Mexico, prominent figures reflected on the press’s legacy and its global influence.
VietnamPlus e-newspaper of the VNA clinched an A prize in the “Outstanding Press Product” category for its immersive 3D multimedia project, “Epic of Reunification,” a groundbreaking blend of storytelling and technology. The VNA won another A prize for its eye-catching exhibition booth.
Today, the press for foreign service has evolved into a distinct, irreplaceable force, bridging Vietnam with the world and portraying a nation that is stable, peace-loving, and fully integrated into the international community.
At a review conference held on June 21, Deputy Minister of Construction Nguyen Van Sinh praised the province’s scientific, coordinated, and flexible approach. He noted that the early completion reflects the strong commitment of local authorities, the business community, philanthropists, and residents in improving housing conditions for disadvantaged groups.
The VNA delegation, led by General Director Vu Viet Trang, actively participated in the event, engaging in both professional and diplomatic activities.
In the context where AI dominates and produces vast volumes of content, the only sustainable path forward for journalism is to focus on high-quality content and core values. Journalism must redefine its mission - not to report the fastest, but to provide the most profound and trustworthy value.
Granma and the VNA have great potential for cooperation, especially in sharing content regularly, so that VNA products are published on Granma platforms and vice versa, thereby helping Cuban and Vietnamese people access true information and gain a deep understanding of each other's country and people.
During his stay in China’s Guangzhou city from 1924 to 1927 to prepare for the establishment of a Communist Party to lead Vietnam’s revolution, President Ho Chi Minh founded “Thanh nien” newspaper and released its first issue on June 21, 1925.
Vietnam and Cambodia are hoped to strengthen their robust collaboration across various sectors, particularly in resolving remaining border issues to transform the border area into a zone of peace, friendship, cooperation, and development.
The strategic product, managed and operated by the Vietnam News Agency Digital Media Centre (VNA Media), is an official channel for popularising the Party and State’s information and documents as well as delivering mainstream and trustworthy news to both domestic and international audiences through various kinds of multimedia formats.
Since President Ho Chi Minh founded Thanh Nien (Young People) newspaper in 1925, the Vietnamese revolutionary press has become the voice of the people. During the resistance war against the colonialists, journalists took great personal risks to inspire patriotism and the will of rising up against foreign invaders.
The total investment exceeded 319 billion VND (12.2 million USD), including over 261 billion VND from the state budget and 57.5 billion VND mobilised from businesses, organisations, and individuals.
A pangolin (Source: telegraph.co.uk)
