Cua Lo town strives to achieve 'dual goals'

Promoting grassroots broadcasting systems in epidemic prevention and control

Along with visual forms of propaganda such as banners, slogans, Zalo, Facebook... in the face of the situationCovid-19 epidemicWith the current complicated developments, to ensure propaganda work reaches the people, one of the most effective forms that Cua Lo town has promoted is propaganda through the grassroots radio system, which has been playing an active and pioneering role in providing timely useful information on disease prevention and control to the people.

Nghi Thuy Ward Radio Station (Cua Lo Town) promotes communication about COVID-19 on the radio system. Photo: Thanh Hien

During the past time, Nghi Thuy ward's broadcasting system has been operating at almost full capacity, aiming to provide people with the most complete and up-to-date information about the COVID-19 epidemic situation.

Talking with Mr. Nguyen Dac Tuan - Secretary of the Ward Youth Union and in charge of the Ward Radio Station, it is known that: Since the COVID-19 epidemic has become complicated, the Ward People's Committee has directed the Radio Station to build propaganda bulletins on 13 wireless loudspeaker clusters located in the blocks at 5:30 am in the morning and 5:30 pm in the afternoon. The daily bulletins of the Ward Radio Station spend most of their time propagating the work of preventing and fighting the COVID-19 epidemic. "In particular, we also regularly update information related to new cases of infection; positive signals in the work of preventing and fighting the epidemic to avoid panic among the people.

Restaurant owners along the coast signed a commitment to close and temporarily suspend business according to regulations. Photo courtesy of Thanh Phuc

In addition, by creating groups on Zalo and Facebook, the latest information on the epidemic situation from official sources is compiled, updated continuously and promptly to inform the people. The station builds a Q&A column on the COVID-19 epidemic; promptly informs about urgent documents and new announcements from the People's Committee of the town and ward about not gathering in large groups and plans to prevent and control the epidemic; guides people to implement measures to prevent and control the epidemic such as: wearing masks; washing hands with soap or antiseptic solution; signs of recognizing COVID-19 disease... ", Mr. Tuan shared.

Talking about the role of grassroots radio in disease prevention and control, Mr. Vo Hong Hai - Director of the Center for Culture, Sports and Communications of Cua Lo town said: Since the COVID-19 epidemic broke out again, 100% of wards in the town directed the Radio Station to increase the broadcasting time on COVID-19 prevention and control. Through the grassroots radio system, people can easily access and grasp information in the fastest way.

The Border Guard Station of Cua Lo - Ben Thuy Port coordinated with functional forces to propagate COVID-19 prevention and control to fishermen. Photo courtesy of PV

Although the facilities and technical equipment of many grassroots radio stations are still lacking; most of the radio staff work part-time or are non-professional workers, with responsibility for their work, they all actively participate in the "war" to prevent and fight the COVID-19 pandemic. With the spirit of "fighting the epidemic like fighting the enemy", the grassroots radio station in Cua Lo town has promoted its "mission" in propaganda work to prevent and fight the COVID-19 pandemic. From there, it has made an important contribution to controlling and preventing the COVID-19 pandemic from entering and spreading in the community.

Preserving traditional crafts

It is clear that during the outbreak of the epidemic, like many localities with tourism and service potential, Cua Lo town has been significantly affected. Since the outbreak of the epidemic, almost all tourism activities have stopped to prevent and control the epidemic. And at this time, the people of the town have more time and more enthusiasm for preserving and promoting traditional occupations. One of the occupations we want to mention is fish sauce production.

Present at the house of Mrs. Le Thi Xe (born in 1959) and Mr. Nguyen Huy Quang (born in 1957) in block 2 (Nghi Tan), right in front of the house, Mrs. Xe and her husband took advantage of the sunniest yard to "display" more than 80 fish sauce barrels. And the special thing is that unlike many families today who are still using plastic or cement barrels to make salt, Mrs. Xe's family's salt barrels have been replaced by earthenware jars with carefully covered lids. According to Mrs. Xe, both grandparents have known about the fish sauce making profession since they were very young, because both their paternal and maternal sides followed this profession, lived with the profession and became rich, raised their children to study successfully from this profession.

Mr. Nguyen Dinh Ha (Nghi Thuy ward) has started building a new pair of ships with a total investment of up to 15 billion VND. Photo: Dai Cua Lo

For Mrs. Xe, the job is ingrained in her blood and flesh. Even though she gets sick and has pain with the job, she has never thought about "retiring". Especially during the pandemic, although other jobs are struggling, her fish sauce making business is still stable, the products are still shipped regularly, customers call every day to order, and her customers, whether near or far, are mainly regular customers. Therefore, she always keeps in mind: We do this job because of our heart, because we want to preserve the profession our ancestors left behind.

In the context of the COVID-19 epidemic causing tourismCua Lo townwas heavily affected, seemingly lost in the summer of 2021. Most of the tourism service businesses in Cua Lo town are fishermen. Not willing to sit still, along with expanding many traditional industries such as fish sauce production, fishing logistics...; many households also spent money to build large boats, determined to go out to sea. Typically, the fleet of Mr. Nguyen Dinh Ha (Nghi Thuy ward) has started building a pair of new ships with a total investment of up to 15 billion VND. Each ship is 25.10m long, with an engine capacity of 1,500 CV, and has now been launched and docked at Cua Lo Port. This is the 23rd pair of offshore fishing vessels of Nghi Thuy ward, and is also one of the pairs of seafood exploitation vessels with the longest length and largest engine capacity in the town today.

The fish sauce production facility of Ms. Le Thi Xe's family in Block 2, Nghi Tan Ward (Cua Lo Town). Photo: Thanh Hien

Since the beginning of the year, the town has well implemented the "dual task" of both preventing and fighting the epidemic and developing the economy and society. In the first 6 months of the year, the total production value is estimated at 5,068 billion VND, reaching 46% of the plan of the Town People's Council, up 6.4% over the same period; of which, the service sector is estimated at 1,515 billion VND; industry - construction is estimated at 3,237 billion VND. Particularly, in the first 6 months of the year, the fishing season was good, the total output is estimated at 9,020 tons of seafood of all kinds, reaching 56.6% of the yearly plan, up 8.7% over the same period in 2020. In addition, the whole town has launched 4 more ships with a capacity of over 1,100 CV.

To stabilize people's lives, in the last 6 months of the year, the town continues to focus on COVID-19 prevention and control and develop plans, prepare adequate human resources and means to prevent and respond in all cases. Strictly implement the "5K" measures, trace and isolate cases from epidemic areas, closely monitor quarantine areas and locations and promote the capacity of the community COVID-19 Team. Have mechanisms and policies to promote production and business development, continue to implement support policies of the Central and the province for those affected by the COVID-19 epidemic. Call for investment attraction, meet with businesses and strategic investors to invest in the most favorable land locations in the town, which are the areas on both sides of Vinh - Cua Lo Boulevard, the coastal national highway, and land locations with cleared land.

The invested coastal route has expanded the urban space of Cua Lo town. Photo courtesy of Mai Hoa

Party committees and authorities at all levels of wards promote solutions and policies to support the development of agricultural economy, livestock, fishing and seafood to create a sustainable economy. Develop offshore seafood exploitation in conjunction with strict implementation of regulations on fishing and traceability of seafood. Review, evaluate and have plans to widely replicate effective economic models, solutions for product consumption, apply crops with productivity and economic efficiency suitable to local soil and climate. Do a good job of introducing, promoting and selling industrial products and handicrafts of the town. Diversify sales forms, increase promotion and sales via the internet system, connect with supermarkets and commercial centers to sell OCOP products that have been recognized by the market.