Health care staff gives check-ups to HIV/AIDS patients in Vinh Phuc Centre for HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control (Illustrative image. Source: VNA)(VNA) – The was launched at a
ceremony in Ho Chi Minh City on December 1 with the participation of Minister
of Health Nguyen Thi Kim Tien and nearly 2,000 representatives of students,
armed forces and mass organizations.
Calling for actions from all
the people against , the minister said that Vietnam has reaped
impressive achievements in the work over the past years, yet the country is still
facing many serious challenges like the increasing number of new cases in the
high-risk group, inadequate attention to the prevention work, the difficulties
in the shift of the treatment to the health insurance, and the lingering
discrimination against HIV carriers.
The minister called on
leaders of localities, social organizations, the health sector and all the
people to act more strongly so every people can access prevention services in an
early and sustainable manner.
Speaking highly of Vietnam’s
efforts, Director of the noted that so far
this year, the country has successfully realized many new ideas for the people
to have more choices and easier approaches to prevention services. It will be a
historical turning point when Vietnam starts to provide treatment services
covered by the health insurance, she stressed.
Statistics by the health
ministry reveal that currently Vietnam counts about 208,000 HIV carriers, each
year the country has over 8,000 new carriers detected and from 3,000 – 4,000
people die of AIDS. At least 50,000 people having HIV are living in the
community without knowing they are carrying the virus.-VNA
Source: VietnamPlus
