Vietnam Should Improve Efficiency Of HIV/AIDS Control Programs To Reduce Impact, Spread Of The Disease, Deputy PM Says

Main Category: HIV / AIDS
Article Date: 16 Oct 2007 - 6:00 PDT

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Vietnam needs to improve the efficiency of its HIV/AIDS control programs to reduce the impact and spread of the disease in the country, Deputy Prime Minister Truong Vinh Trong said on Friday at the end of a two-day conference on HIV/AIDS prevention in Hanoi, Vietnam, the Vietnam News Brief Service reports. "Localities nationwide have made efforts in implementing HIV/AIDS prevention activities; however, the efficiency is not high," Trong said, adding that 18 of the country's 60 cities and provinces have faced challenges in implementation.

According to Trong, Vietnam's relevant ministries and agencies should promote increased cooperation with international organizations and implement interventions to reduce the spread of the disease from high-risk groups to the general population. Trong asked the relevant ministries to issue practical plans and measures to help accomplish the national strategy on HIV/AIDS prevention, which aims to keep Vietnam's HIV/AIDS prevalence at less than 0.3%. As of Aug. 30, the country recorded 128,367 people living with HIV, 25,119 of whom had developed AIDS. The country also recorded 14,042 AIDS-related deaths, the Vietnam News Brief Service reports. It is estimated that Vietnam will have about 351,000 people living with HIV, including 157,000 people living with AIDS, by 2010 (Vietnam News Brief Service, 10/12).

In related news, Vietnam recently announced it plans to invest 1,352 billion Vietnamese dong, or about $84.5 million, in HIV/AIDS prevention activities between 2007 and 2010, Xinhua/People's Daily reports. Most of the funds will be used to prevent new HIV cases among high-risk groups and the general population. Some of the funds also will be used to intensify training for health professionals, Xinhua/People's Daily reports (Xinhua/People's Daily, 10/12).

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