A national action month for HIV/AIDS prevention and control was jointly
launched on Nov. 7 by the Ministry of Health and the Thai Nguyen
provincial People’s Committee.
Representatives from
the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and 10
neighbouring cities and provinces joined more than 4,000 local people at
the launching ceremony.
Speaking at the event,
Deputy Prime Minister Truong Vinh Trong applauded the efforts of
ministries, sectors, socio-political organisations and the entire people
in implementing the comprehensive anti-HIV/AIDS programme, especially
in strengthening the HIV/AIDS prevention systems at all levels,
expanding healthcare, support and treatment services for HIV/AIDS
patients and those exposed to the virus, and eliminating discrimination
against HIV carriers.
To step up the fight against
the fatal epidemic, Trong said leaders at all levels and people should
pioneer in HIV/AIDS prevention and combating activities, while the
healthcare sector needs to increase and ensure the right to get access
to care, treatment and prevention services.
Families and social organisations should give more support to and
prevent discrimination against HIV/AIDS-infected people, the deputy PM
said.
Trong took this occasion to call on
international and non-governmental organisations to continue joining
Vietnam in the fight against the disease.
According to the Ministry of Health, the total number of people infected
with HIV in Vietnam has exceeded 164,000, including more than
37,000 developed to full-blown AIDS. More than 45,000 people died of the
disease.
In another move, a two-day training
course on how to prevent HIV/AIDS and disseminate information about the
epidemic opened in Hanoi on Nov. 7 for students from the Vietnam
Buddhist Institute.
The course is being
jointly held by the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee, the
organisation Nordic Assistance to Vietnam (NAV) and the Executive
Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Institute./.
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