HIV/AIDS, drugs, prostitution prevention and control under review

On November 1, the National Committee for HIV/AIDS, Drugs and Prostitution Prevention and Control held a meeting to review its activities over the past nine months, implement plans for the final quarter of this year, and set key tasks for next year.

According to the Ministry of Public Security, at the end of June 2011, 150,000 drug addicts were reported in Vietnam, 6,700 more than in the same period last year.

The number of drug users continues to increase in major cities such as Hanoi, Hai Phong, Danang, and HCM City.

Over the past ten months, police have detected 12,800 cases of and arrested 22,500 people for drug-related crimes, seizing 233.62 kilograms and 167 bars of heroin.

By the end of September 2011, the country had 193,350 people infected with HIV, including more than 47,000 AIDS patients. There were also 51,300 people died from HIV/AIDS.

In September alone, 9,120 new HIV infections were reported, including 3,700 AIDS patients, and nearly 1,400 reported dead.

The number of males infected with HIV accounted for 69 percent, drug use-related HIV infections 48.5 percent, HIV acquired from sexual relations made up 39.9 percent.

Over the past 9 months, provinces and cities across the country have intensified efforts to prevent and control HIV/AIDS by providing 21.5 million free syringes and more than 20 million condoms to high risk people, and destroyed more than 13 million used syringes.

Nine provinces and cities have also implemented methadone detoxification to treat nearly 5,000 heroin addicts patients at 30 treatment centres.

Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyen Trong Dam said that during the reviewed period, localities treated and educated 2,460 prostitutes while the sector has already provided detoxification for 40,000 drug addicts and began treating 22,800 new ones.

Based on the results of HIV/AIDS, drugs and prostitution prevention and control in the last nine months, delegates said that the prostitution situation remains complex due to poor public awareness and information dissemination.

Members from the National Committee highlighted the need to involve social organizations, agencies and businesses in preventing and controlling HIV/AIDS, promote communication among ethnic minorities, and integrate HIV/AIDS, drugs and prostitution prevention into socio-economic development programs.

In his speech, Deputy PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc said the Party and State have always paid attention to preventing and controlling HIV/AIDS, drugs and prostitution, adopting strategies and action programs that have earned international acclaim.

Mr Phuc asked the Ministry of Health to coordinate with Government agencies to carry out a methadone detoxification treatment project and devise a national strategy for preventing and controlling HIV/AIDS in the 2011-2020 period.

The Ministry of Public Security was asked to supervise the implementation of the national strategy and launch a campaign to control drugs before and after the traditional lunar New Year Festival.

Deputy PM Phuc also asked the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs to work closely with relevant agencies while encouraging businesses, social organizations and donors to support community-based detoxification activities and create jobs for rehabilitated drug addicts.