DPM urges stronger fights against AIDS, drug, prostitution

Deputy PM Nguyễn Xuân Phúc awards certificates of merit to organizations and individuals that had outstanding achievements in 2011

Deputy PM Phúc made the request at the national conference on reviewing HIV/AIDS, drug and prostitution prevention and fight in 2011 and giving orientations in 2012 that was held in Hải Phòng City from March 2-3.

He also asked ministries, sectors and localities to continue improving legal documents relating to HIV/AIDS, drug and prostitution prevention and fight, strengthening communications to enhance public awareness about the issue, expanding mobilization of all sources, especially funds and locally available sources, and embedding anti-HIV/AIDS, drug and prostitution contents in socioeconomic development programs.

Inferior levels should make relevant reports with high accuracy to improve effectiveness of HIV/AIDS, drug and prostitution prevention and fight, and make relevant proposals to the Committee and the Committee’s Chairman, the Deputy PM said.

Many delegates to the conference agreed that the methadone therapy, which has been conducted on a trial basis to detoxify drug addicts in some localities, should be expanded nationwide. No new provincial drug detoxification centers should be established. Besides, effectiveness and quality of voluntary education and healthcare centers designated for drug addicts and prostitutes should be improved.

By the end of 2011, Việt Nam had had some alive 198,000 HIV carriers, and nearly 49,000 AIDS patients. Over 52,000 people have died of AIDS. The numbers of new HIV infections and AIDS patients in 2011 dropped respectively by 142 and 78 compared with 2010.

By the end of last year, the country had had some 158,000 drug addicts, up 8,500 against the same period of 2010. Nearly 75% of drug addicts live in communities, and over 20% are under treatment at drug detoxification centers.

By Ngọc Vân