Nghe An has more than 6,900 drug addicts

(Baonghean.vn) - On the morning of December 8, the Government held a national online conference to review the work of HIV/AIDS prevention and control, drug and prostitution prevention and control in 2017, and deploy work in 2018.

Nghe An bridge attended the online conference. Photo: Thanh Son

Report of the Standing Committee of the National AssemblyThe National Committee for HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control, Drug and Prostitution Prevention and Control said: It is estimated that by the end of 2017, the country discovered about 9,800 new HIV infections, 1,800 people infected with HIV died. Compared to 2016, the number of new infections decreased by 1.1%, the number of deaths decreased by 15%. The number of people infected with HIV who are still alive is over 208,000 people.

Vietnam has provided antiretroviral (ARV) treatment to 122,439 patients, an increase of nearly 6,000 patients compared to the end of 2016; dispensing drugs at commune health stations to 10,499 patients. To date, the country has 294 Methadone treatment facilities, treating 52,818 patients.

During the year, the authorities discovered, investigated and arrested 22,346 drug cases and 34,494 subjects; seized 906.7 kg of heroin, 856.9 kg and 979,487 synthetic drug pills.

As of November 15, the number of drug addicts with records was 222,582, an increase of 11,831 compared to 2016, with 58 localities reporting an increase in the number of addicts. To date, the total number of people undergoing drug rehabilitation at facilities is 32,610.

According to local reports, the number of prostitutes is currently more than 13,000, with 408 locations and areas with complicated prostitution problems. Currently, 36 localities have implemented a pilot model and maintained a model to prevent and combat prostitution.

Dispensing Methadone to patients at Con Cuong District Medical Center. Photo courtesy

Speaking at the conference, Mr. Le Minh Thong - Vice Chairman of Nghe An Provincial People's Committee reported on drug addiction treatment in the locality. In 2017, Nghe An detected and arrested 1,102 cases, 1,365 drug offenders, and seized more than 300 kg of various drugs.

By the end of October 2017, the whole province had 6,901 drug addicts with management records (a decrease of 88 addicts compared to 2016). The total number of people participating in drug rehabilitation in the area was 4,824 cases/6,901 addicts with management records, reaching a rate of 69.9%.

The Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Nghe An province proposed that the Government soon issue a Decree on voluntary drug rehabilitation for localities to apply, in accordance with Decision No. 1640/QD-TTg dated August 18, 2016 of the Prime Minister on approving the planning of the drug rehabilitation network until 2020, with a vision to 2030.

At the same time, propose and submit to the National Assembly amendments and supplements to the 2008 Law on Drug Prevention and Control and the 2012 Law on Handling of Administrative Violations to make them consistent with drug prevention and control work in general and drug addiction rehabilitation work in particular; have specific regulations on receiving and managing drug addicts without stable residence at social protection facilities; provide additional funding for localities to serve drug prevention and control work.

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam and leaders of ministries and sectors inaugurated the Methadone treatment information management system. Photo: Chinhphu.vn

Concluding the conference, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam - Chairman of the National Committee for HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control, Drug and Prostitution Prevention and Control highly appreciated the drastic participation and synchronous coordination between ministries, branches and localities in the work of AIDS, drug and prostitution prevention and control.

In the coming time, comrade Vu Duc Dam requested agencies and localities to well implement the 2018 plan; focus on drastic implementation, aiming for the 90-90-90 target in 2020, ensuring 90% of people diagnosed with HIV are treated with ARV drugs in 2018.

Ministries, sectors and localities need to innovate propaganda and warnings about the risks of synthetic drugs and new psychotropic substances; voluntary drug rehabilitation in the community needs to be concerned, creative, and depend on the local situation to improve efficiency. In the work of preventing and combating prostitution, localities need to reduce prostitution venues, not allowing new ones to arise, and strive to reduce the number of venues by half by 2018 compared to 2017.

For some documents that still have many problems, relevant ministries and branches are requested to review, examine, and promptly issue appropriate legal documents.

At the conference, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam and leaders of ministries and sectors launched the Methadone treatment information management system, ensuring that drug addicts receiving Methadone treatment receive continuous treatment wherever they go. After putting this system into use, by June 2018, the management of drug addicts receiving Methadone treatment will be completely digitized./.

Thanh Son