Vietnam Posts Record High Number of HIV Patients Receiving ARV Treatment

Up to 100,000 people living with HIV in Vietnam are currently being treated with antiretroviral (ARV) drugs, a Health Ministry official said in a conference on November 9. Dr. Nguyen Hoang Long, head of the HIV/AIDS Department for HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control, attributed the result to the efficient interference measures and communications methods of the program. As of September this year, there were 7,054 new HIV cases, with 4,257 AIDS patients, he said, alerting that the ratio of woman catching the virus is rising. Up to 80% of the carriers are between 20 and 40 years old. The official also pointed out that a lack of resources and a cut in financial sources are affecting the HIV/AIDS prevention and control service coverage since HIV/AIDS treatment is no longer covered by health insurance. During the conference, the Ministry of Health also launched a national action month for HIV/AIDS prevention and control in 2015, targeting 90% of HIV infected people knowing their situation, 90% of people living with HIV getting life-long and non-stop ARV treatment, and 90% ARV-using patients keeping HIV virus density under the recommended level. The action month also aims to eliminate discrimination against people living with HIV, strengthening the assistance provided by families and society as well as the responsibility of people living with HIV/AIDS themselves towards their families and society. During the month, a number of practical activities will also be organized, including a march at national level and a fund-raising event to support people living with HIV/AIDS. According to officials at the conference, Vietnam currently has 227 people with HIV, of which 83,500 are AIDS patients. Though the number of new discovered cases have been decreasing, the total number is still rising and put more pressure on the society. (Dai Doan Ket – Great Unity Nov 10 p13, An Ninh Thu Do –Capital Security Nov 10 p2, vietnamplus.vn Nov 9)