Associate Professor and Deputy Director General of the Vietnam Authority of HIV/AIDS Control Bui Duc Duong said as of the Q1/2012, there had been some 201,134 HIV patients alive. The number of newly-detected cases was 1,065 fewer against the same period of 2011.
Vietnam has 57,733 AIDS carriers alive, down 760 cases. Some 61,579 cases reported death, a decrease of 214 against the same period last year.
The Authority however said the HIV infection rate among people aged 30-39 is rising, particularly among female group.
To improve the awareness of rural residents, communication programs have been accelerated. In Q1/2012, more than 5,200 propagandists conducted direct communication activities to help some 3.6 million rural residents know more about HIV/AIDS infection risks.
These propagandists also met and provided free-of-charge syringes to 50-60% of drug addicts and offered condoms to 40 -50% of the prostitutes.
At present, Vietnam houses 43 methadone treatment centers with over 9,500 patients and 308 facilities for HIV/AIDS treatment.
Associate Professor and Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long said his Ministry would step up drastic measures to secure the sustainability of HIV/AIDS fight.
By Huong Giang