Campaign aims to protect hearing health of seniors

The National Health Commission has launched a three-year nationwide campaign to improve the hearing health of older adults.

The campaign aims to help seniors better protect their hearing by taking preventive measures such as undergoing hearing tests, and to improve the country's ability to prevent and control the disability among them, the commission said.

Local health authorities are required to promote hearing health by means such as posters, pamphlets and short videos to educate seniors, according to the commission, adding that hearing loss does not occur simply because a person gets older.

The commission encouraged older people to test their own hearing by using software and take further tests at professional institutions if they uncover problems.

It also encouraged capable regions to provide hearing screenings for seniors.
Local health authorities should step up their efforts to train more teams to prevent and control hearing loss among older people, the commission said.

The commission asked the authorities to offer special training for technicians working in otolaryngology departments at hospitals, rehabilitation institutes focused on hearing and speech impairment and facilities offering hearing aid-fitting services.

Travelers urged to watch out for extreme weather

The Ministry of Culture and Tourism has issued a reminder to tourists to be more vigilant as an increased number of extreme weather events are expected to occur this summer.

Tourists should pay close attention to weather conditions at their destinations and as they travel to them, and adjust their plans promptly according to alerts issued by local authorities, the ministry said.

While visiting mountains and valleys, people should watch out for hazards such as potential landslides, falling rocks and floods, it said.

The ministry also called on tourists to take action to prevent heatstroke, beware of lightning strikes and intense rainfall and avoid visiting areas that are not developed or opened to the public, or lack safety guarantees.

Anti-smuggling efforts yielding positive results

The country has cracked 1,087 cases of maritime smuggling since a campaign initiated by the Ministry of Public Security and related departments was launched in August last year.

The authorities have captured 5,846 suspects and detained 638 vessels, the ministry said in a statement.

They have also seized a large amount of smuggled frozen products, refined oil, cigarettes, agricultural and maritime products, minerals and alcohol.

Some people have "engaged in wanton smuggling" into China through maritime routes to rake in huge profits, seriously undermining China's economic interests and market order, the ministry said.

The ministry has revealed 10 maritime smuggling cases cracked by public security authorities in the provinces of Zhejiang, Guangdong, Fujian, Jiangsu, Hainan, Liaoning and Hebei, and the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.

It said public security authorities will continue to work closely with other departments, strengthen international law enforcement and take stronger actions against maritime smuggling.