Community joins hands to push back HIV/AIDS

The HIV/AIDS situation in Quang Ninh has been basically controlled and pushed back in recent times, but the epidemic still has complex and unpredictable factors. To continue to control the HIV infection rate in the community, all levels, sectors, socio-political organizations and unions have had many ways and specific measures to join hands to push back the epidemic.

The "Friends help friends reform" club is a place for people who have made mistakes to meet and share knowledge about HIV/AIDS prevention and control.

Following the officers of Cam Pha Ward Police, we came to the "Friends help friends reform" Club, where the meeting was truly special because of the presence of people who had made mistakes, now together overcoming their complexes, stabilizing their lives, and integrating into the community. Taking advantage of the time, they shared stories about doing business , disseminating laws, knowledge about preventing drug addiction and HIV/AIDS infection.

For the past 13 years, the “Friends help friends reform” Club in Cam Pha has always been open to welcoming people after drug rehabilitation. The Club is a support for people after drug rehabilitation, a place to share, sympathize and arouse the desire to reform. In particular, the Club also creates sustainable livelihoods with 2 typical models: “Friends help friends” ice production facility, creating jobs for 5 workers, revenue of 500-600 million VND/year and ecological ornamental plant growing facility, bringing in income of 6-7 million VND/month for many people who have made mistakes.

Mr. Pham Tat Nghia, Chairman and founder of the Club, said: In the group, there are members who have contracted HIV due to the use of drugs and shared needles. Therefore, we have also promoted to members that if anyone is sick, they should go to the doctor and take full medication, and at the same time know how to prevent it for their family members.

In recent times, Hiep Hoa ward has always paid attention to HIV/AIDS prevention. Especially in the context of the locality having complex population movements from many provinces and cities across the country. Therefore, the ward has increased direct propaganda in residential areas, workers' boarding houses, enterprises, and integrated HIV/AIDS prevention information into residential group meetings and association and mass organization activities. Communication content closely follows the goal of raising awareness about prevention, encouraging early testing, reducing stigma and supporting HIV-infected people to integrate into the community.

Hiep Hoa Ward Health Station organized HIV prevention propaganda at Hiep Hoa Secondary School.

Vice Chairwoman of Hiep Hoa Ward People's Committee Dao Thi Huong Giang said: In the coming time, the ward will continue to focus on innovating propaganda methods, focusing more on workers and students. Strengthen communication through social networks, visual billboards, easy-to-understand leaflets, and expand the team of health collaborators in residential areas to advise and support people in accessing health services, such as periodic testing, ARV treatment, and PREP. The ward's goal is to build a safe, non-discriminatory community where everyone, including temporary workers and students, has equal access to information and health services.

In recent years, HIV/AIDS prevention work has been coordinated and implemented relatively synchronously by sectors, organizations and localities in the whole province. In particular, the movement "All people participate in HIV/AIDS prevention in the community" has been widely deployed to communes and wards, contributing to changing fundamental awareness of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

Departments, branches and organizations have developed many programs and commitments to implement HIV/AIDS prevention work from the provincial to grassroots levels; well manage high-risk groups (drug addicts, prostitutes, and management of drug and prostitution venues). Coordinate propaganda and dissemination of legal knowledge related to HIV/AIDS, create conditions for families with HIV-infected people to borrow support capital to develop the household economy; encourage and mobilize HIV-infected people to participate in clubs and self-help groups to share and help each other overcome difficulties in life.

The synchronous participation of the political system and the consensus of the people have changed the awareness and behavior of the community towards people infected with HIV and helped HIV/AIDS prevention work to be implemented effectively, thereby reducing the burden on the economy and society.

Ngoc Tram

Source: https://baoquangninh.vn/cong-dong-chung-tay-day-lui-dich-benh-3386625.html