Hai Phong: The Black Rose community activist group was asked by parents to be disciplined for arbitrarily testing blood and taking fingerprints of some students in Do Son district.
On the afternoon of August 21, the leader of the People's Committee of Do Son district said that the district government and police are working with parents and the Black Rose group to clarify legal issues surrounding the incident in which the group tested blood and took fingerprints of some students in the area without notice.
At around 10am on August 18, residents and police from Hai Son ward raided house number 44 Nguyen Huu Cau street, Hai Son ward, Do Son district and discovered a group of people testing blood and taking fingerprints from a number of students.
House number 44 Nguyen Huu Cau, where the Black Rose group organized blood tests and fingerprints. Photo: Xuan Hoa
"Through surveillance, we discovered that my child was talking to a woman about taking blood and fingerprints for testing. Each child who came to do the test would be paid 100,000 VND per person by this group, and if they introduced more people, they would be paid 25,000 VND," said Ms. Huong, a parent whose 13-year-old child was invited by this group to do the test. Worried that her child was in danger, Ms. Huong and some people followed and reported it to the police.
The Hai Son Ward People's Committee invited this group to the headquarters for clarification. Upon verification, this is a community activity group called Black Rose, led by Ms. Dinh Thi Ut with 6 members, supported by the Center for Supporting Community Development Initiatives (SCDI). The group conducts activities such as counseling, HIV testing, knowledge assessment and communication on the harms and risks of drugs and mental health.
Members of the Black Rose - Black Rainbow group at the headquarters of the Hai Son Ward People's Committee. Photo: Xuan Hoa
According to the Hai Phong CDC, from January 1 to August 17, the group provided HIV counseling and screening tests to 200 people and tested 4 people. In addition, some students as young as 13 were invited to have their blood tested, but before they could do so, they were discovered by their parents and the police.
"The blood test and fingerprinting of students under 16 years old is wrong," affirmed Mr. Luu Dinh Dung, Chairman of Hai Son Ward People's Committee. According to the Law on HIV/AIDS Prevention, HIV testing for people under 15 years old can only be done with the consent of the parents or guardians. Therefore, the ward has suspended the group's activities and requested them to provide records and documents related to their activities here.
A representative of SCDI in Hai Phong said that members of the Black Rose - Black Rainbow groups have all been trained in counseling and HIV testing. "Community support groups like this have been operating for 10 years, strictly complying with the Law on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control and have made many contributions to society," the representative explained. However, he also said that "there were some incorrect steps in the process of approaching customers" and is working with authorities to clarify the matter.
The Department of HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control has sent an official dispatch requesting the Department of Health and the Center for Disease Control of Hai Phong City to coordinate with relevant units to clarify the above information and report before 12:00 on August 22.
SCDI is a non-profit organization, established by the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations, operating since 2010 with the goal of creating a favorable environment, improving physical, psychosocial and economic conditions for drug addicts, people with HIV, homosexuals, transgender people, prisoners, orphans and homeless people.
Le Tan
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