HIV is on the rise in many 'non-priority' provinces.

A workshop was held in Can Tho City to implement Directive No. 07-CT/TW of the Party Central Committee on strengthening leadership in HIV/AIDS prevention and control, aiming to end the AIDS epidemic in Vietnam before 2030.

Mr. Vu Hai Son - Deputy Director of the Department of HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control - presented a report at the workshop - Photo: T. Luy

The workshop was chaired by the Central Propaganda Department and leaders of the Ministry of Health ; it was also attended by Mr. Eric Dziuban - Director of the US CDC in Vietnam, representatives of organizations and agencies of the United Nations in Vietnam, and representatives of departments and agencies from 31 southern provinces and cities.

Speaking at the event, Deputy Minister of Health Tran Van Thuan stated that the HIV/AIDS epidemic remains a public health issue worldwide as well as in Vietnam.

Despite Vietnam having gradually brought the HIV/AIDS epidemic under control for a long period, it is projected that the number of newly detected HIV cases in 2023 will increase again to over 13,000.

Therefore, the challenges we face today remain immense. After 33 years of confronting and responding to the HIV/AIDS epidemic , implementing Directive No. 07-CT/TW on strengthening HIV/AIDS prevention and control, and working towards ending the AIDS epidemic before 2030, there are still many issues that need to be addressed.

According to Dr. Vu Hai Son, Deputy Director of the Department of HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control under the Ministry of Health, data on the distribution of new HIV infections in 2023 shows that over 60% were detected in the Mekong Delta, Southeast region, and Ho Chi Minh City.

Alarmingly, the number of HIV infections is increasing in "non-key" provinces such as Bac Lieu, Ben Tre, Tien Giang, and Vinh Long…

HIV infections are primarily detected in younger age groups; in 2022, 50% of HIV cases were detected in the 15-29 age group, mainly men who have sex with men and transgender women (this group accounts for nearly 60% of detected HIV infections), with the main mode of transmission being sexual contact…

Towards the goal of ending the AIDS epidemic in Vietnam by 2030, according to the Department of HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control, the objectives are for agencies from the central to local levels to make efforts to mobilize financial resources for HIV/AIDS prevention and control; expand HIV/AIDS treatment covered by the Health Insurance Fund; continue to review and improve legal documents to ensure their suitability for disease prevention and control in the new situation; and effectively mobilize and utilize international aid for HIV/AIDS prevention, control, and treatment services.

According to the leaders of the Central Propaganda Department, the coverage of HIV/AIDS prevention and control services currently falls short of our expectations. These challenges require the entire political system to be determined and act together to overcome them, aiming to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Vietnam by 2023.

According to T. LUY - Tuoi Tre Online

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