The theme of the HIV/AIDS Action Month 2023 (from November 10 to December 10) and World HIV/AIDS Day (December 1) was chosen as: "Creative Community - Determined to End AIDS by 2030" with the aim of creating consensus, unanimity, and high determination of the entire political system from central to local levels as well as the community towards the goal of ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
As of September 2023, the country recorded 10,219 new cases of HIV and 1,126 deaths. Of the newly discovered HIV cases, 84.5% were men, mainly aged 16 - 29 (47.3%) and 30 - 39 (28.2%).
The main route of transmission is unsafe sex (75.1%); the main subjects are men who have sex with men (49.2%) and other subjects (31.2%).
The pattern of HIV infection in the period from 2010 to September 2023 has changed significantly. Among newly detected HIV-infected people, the proportion of people infected with HIV through blood decreased from 47.5% (in 2010) to 6.4%; the proportion of people infected with HIV through sex became the main transmission route, increasing from 47.5% (in 2010) to 84.4% (in 2022) and 75.1% (in September 2023).
Notably, the HIV epidemic among men who have sex with men (MSM) has shown a clear upward trend in recent times and is expected to continue to increase in the coming time (key surveillance results show that the HIV infection rate among MSM increased from 7.4% in 2016 to 12.5% in 2022).
Recent research results also show that transgender women are also one of the groups warned of the risk of HIV infection with a rate in Hanoi of 5.8% in 2022; in Ho Chi Minh City it was 6.8% in 2004, increasing to 18% in 2016 and 16.5% in 2020.
The trend and situation of HIV/AIDS epidemic have changed dramatically, so the theme of Action Month for HIV/AIDS prevention and control was raised to reaffirm Vietnam's determination to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030.
The theme of the HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Action Month has been spreading to every citizen, to every small alley, village... as well as to ministries, branches, organizations from central to local levels, social organizations, especially target community groups including people infected with HIV and having high-risk behaviors for HIV infection.
Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan affirmed that the HIV/AIDS prevention and control program in Vietnam still has a lot of work to do, especially to achieve the goal of ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030.
The HIV epidemic is likely to flare up again if we are subjective, lack attention, and do not invest adequately in HIV/AIDS prevention and control.
Responding to the National Action Month and World HIV/AIDS Day 2023, the head of the health sector requested that leaders at all levels, departments, branches, and central and local organizations continue to pay attention to the HIV/AIDS prevention and control program, direct relevant units to closely follow the Government's National Strategy goals to develop action plans for each year and each stage and implement HIV/AIDS prevention and control activities creatively and effectively.
Increase investment, budget allocation, and ensure finance for HIV/AIDS prevention and control; integrate HIV/AIDS prevention and control into local socio-economic development plans.
On the health sector side, continue to strengthen, expand coverage and improve the quality of HIV prevention, testing, care and treatment services; promote communication activities, harm reduction interventions, and HIV treatment; create maximum favorable conditions for people to access HIV prevention and treatment services.
Community organizations need to participate more actively, strongly and creatively in HIV/AIDS prevention and control activities, especially in providing direct services to target groups.
On this occasion, the Minister of Health also requested international organizations and governments to continue to provide financial and technical support. The support and assistance of international organizations for the HIV/AIDS prevention and control program will help Vietnam gain faster access to science and technology, new initiatives, and good practices, so that Vietnam can soon achieve its set goals.
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