VietNamNet Bridge – Up to 100,000 people living with HIV nationwide are currently being treated with antiretroviral (ARV) drug as a result of the on-going effective HIV/AIDS prevention and control programme in Vietnam, a Health Ministry official said.

A medical staff instructs a patient how to use ARV drug -- Source: tiengchuong

Dr. Nguyen Hoang Long, head of the HIV/AIDS Department for HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control attributed the result to the efficient interference measures and communications methods of the programme.

The HIV/AIDS prevention system that has been set up across levels has helped reduce HIV infections to the ratio of 256 per 100,000 people, keep 400,000 people away from HIV virus and save 150,000 others from AIDS in the 2001-2015 period, he noted.

As of September this year, 7,054 new HIV cases were discovered, with 4,257 AIDS patients, he said, alerting that the ratio of woman catching the virus is rising. Up to 80 percent of the carriers are aged between 20 and 40.

The official also pointed out that a lack of resources and a cut in financial sources are affecting the HIV/AIDS prevention and control service coverage since HIV/AIDS treatment is no longer covered by health insurance.

During the conference, the Ministry of Health also launched a national action month for HIV/AIDS prevention and control in 2015, targeting 90 percent of HIV infected people knowing their situation, 90 percent of people living with HIV getting life-long and non-stop ARV treatment, and 90 percent ARV-using patients keeping HIV virus density under the recommended level.

The action month also aims to eliminate discrimination against people living with HIV, strengthening the assistance provided by families and society as a whole as well as the responsibility of people living with HIV/AIDS themselves towards their families and society.

The coverage, quality and access to HIV/AIDS prevention and control services will also be improved.

During the month, a number of practical activities will also be oragnised, including a meeting and march at national level, and a fund-raising event to support people living with HIV/AIDS.    

VNA