World Bank Helps Raise HIV Knowledge among Vietnam Reporters

A training course to enhance knowledge on HIV/AIDS prevention under the supports of the World Bank (WB) took place in Vietnam’s the central city of Danang from June 6-8, state media reported. The two-day course aimed to improve awareness of HIV/AIDS prevention to 34 reporters from 12 cities and provinces and enable them to boost dissemination of preventive methods in the fights against this pandemic disease. Vietnam has around 200,000 people living with HIV including 49,000 AIDS-caused deaths. The number of HIV-infected people in the Southeast Asian country is forecast to rise to 300,000 by 2015. Vietnam is urged to invest more in fights against HIV/AIDS as more and more foreign organizations halt its supports to the country as Vietnam was reported no longer among poor nations. Currently, up to 70% of expenditures for HIV/AIDS issues are originated from international sources. (Vietnamplus June 8)