Vietnam - Deputy PM urges nation to combat HIV/AIDS

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has urged every ministry, sector and province to introduce sweeping measures to fight HIV/AIDS, drugs and prostitution as soon as possible.

Deputy PM Phuc, who is also Chairman of the National Committee for HIV/AIDS, Drugs and Prostitution Control, made the appeal at the National Conference in Hai Phong City on Mar. 2 to review the country’s work in this area over the last year and announce ongoing operations for 2012.

He stressed the importance of fighting HIV/AIDS, drugs and prostitution, as these problems affect the country’s economy and society as well as the public’s health and security.

Deputy PM Phuc asked every area and detox centre to extend the programme that treats drug users with methadone, upgrade detox centres and impose stricter measures on the management of detox operations to address the current situation and produce more positive results.

As drugs crime is on the increase, especially the use of amphetamines amongst young people, Phuc directed the relevant agencies to work closer together to combat drugs production and dealing and impose stricter controls on the production and movement of legal drugs.

He also issued instructions to every ministry, sector and province to enforce the Ordinance on prostitution and to draw up a long-term plan to address the situation.

According to statistics revealed by the Ministries of Public Security, Health, Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs, in 2011 the country had 14,125 HIV carriers. Of them, 6,432 contracted full blown AIDS and 2,413 subsequently died.

Newly reported cases made up 42 percent of all HIV carriers.

Especially worrying is the increase in female HIV carriers in the 30 to 39 age bracket.

The figures also indicate that, by the end of November 2011, there were 158,414 identified drug users nationwide, 8,514 people more than during the same period last year.

VNA

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