New York (VNA) – Deputy Prime Minister Truong Vinh Trong addressed the United Nations high-level meting on HIV/AIDS in New York on June 10, calling on donors to continue aiding Vietnam in the fight against the epidemic.
The deputy PM affirmed that over the past two years, having perceived the importance of HIV prevention as one of major contents in the course of national development, the Vietnamese Government has rallied full-scale mobilisation of ministries, agencies, political and social organisations, civil society, and the entire community to address this epidemic.
He said the country has adopted legislative acts and regulations on HIV/AIDS prevention, most notably the Law and Decree on combating HIV/AIDS, National Strategy for AIDS prevention, in addition to plans of action and a series of technical guidance, thus creating a firm and thorough legal framework for the implementation at different levels.
In addition, an integrated AIDS prevention system has been set up from central to local levels and a national monitoring and evaluation system has been established and evolved in conformity with the three-one principle initiated by the United Nations, Deputy PM Trong noted.
He reported that access to ARV treatment in Vietnam has multiplied by 5.7 times, up to 23,695 people in the last two years. The Harm Reduction Programmes have been expanded, with 61 percent and 33.3 percent of districts having carried out condom-distribution and needle-exchange programmes respectively, and with more than 10 million needles and syringes distributed. Viet Nam has recently launched methadone-substitution programmes.
The deputy PM went on to name numerous challenges facing the country in combating the HIV epidemic.
He said the country needs to further expand the coverage of not only the Harm Reduction Programmes such as condom distribution, needle-exchange and methadone treatment, but also access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support services, particularly the maintenance of continuous and life-long treatment for people living with AIDS.
Additionally, a strong monitoring and evaluation system is needed to conduct science-based analyses of the epidemic and make comprehensive assessments on the effectiveness of intervention programmes, with which policies and action plans could be developed in an appropriate and timely manner, the Deputy PM noted.
He also mentioned the need for bigger financial support for the fight, saying that financial resources from the budget and international donors could only ensure 30 percent of the need for HIV/AIDS prevention activities.
The Vietnamese leader affirmed that Viet Nam is making every effort to enhance and broaden its international cooperation and earnestly hopes to receive continued financial and technical assistance from groups of international donors for the implementation of its National Strategy for HIV/AIDS prevention.
The strategy prioritises the following four programmes, including HIV transmission prevention; HIV/AIDS care, counseling and treatment; HIV/AIDS monitoring and evaluation; and institutional capacity-building on HIV/AIDS prevention at the provincial level.
“We are convinced that, with continued international cooperation and assistance, Viet Nam will improve its capacity to overcome the said challenges, thus making significant contributions to the common efforts to prevent the HIV/AIDS epidemic,” Deputy PM Trong concluded.-Enditem
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