Nghe An province has over 6,900 drug addicts.

(Baonghean.vn) - On the morning of December 8th, the Government held a nationwide online conference to summarize the work on HIV/AIDS prevention and control and the prevention and control of drug abuse and prostitution in 2017, and to implement the work for 2018.

The Nghe An delegation participated in the online conference. Photo: Thanh Son

Report of the Standing Committee of the National AssemblyThe National Center for HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control and the Prevention of Drug Abuse and Prostitution reported that by the end of 2017, an estimated 9,800 new cases of HIV infection were detected nationwide, and 1,800 people infected with HIV died. Compared to 2016, this represents a 1.1% decrease in new infections and a 15% decrease in deaths. The number of people living with HIV is over 208,000.

Vietnam has provided antiretroviral (ARV) treatment to 122,439 HIV patients, an increase of nearly 6,000 patients compared to the end of 2016; and has distributed medication at commune health stations to 10,499 patients. To date, there are 294 Methadone treatment facilities nationwide, currently treating 52,818 patients.

During the year, law enforcement agencies detected, investigated, and arrested 22,346 cases involving 34,494 individuals related to drugs; seizing 906.7 kg of heroin, 856.9 kg and 979,487 tablets of synthetic drugs.

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

According to local reports, the number of sex workers currently recorded is over 13,000, with 408 hotspots and areas considered problematic for prostitution. Currently, 36 localities have implemented and maintained pilot models for preventing and combating prostitution.

Dispensing Methadone to patients at Con Cuong District Health Center. (Photo: Archival image)

Speaking at the conference, Mr. Le Minh Thong, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Nghe An province, reported on drug rehabilitation work in the locality. In 2017, Nghe An discovered and arrested 1,102 cases involving 1,365 individuals for drug-related crimes, seizing over 300 kg of various types of drugs.

By the end of October 2017, the province had 6,901 registered drug addicts (a decrease of 88 addicts compared to 2016). The total number of people participating in various forms of drug rehabilitation in the province was 4,824 out of 6,901 registered addicts, achieving a rate of 69.9%.

The Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Nghe An province requested the Government to soon issue a Decree on voluntary drug rehabilitation so that localities can apply and implement it, 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 orientation to 2030.

In addition, it is proposed that the National Assembly amend and supplement the Law on Drug Prevention and Control of 2008 and the Law on Handling Administrative Violations of 2012 to align with drug prevention and control in general and drug addiction treatment in particular; include specific regulations on receiving and managing drug addicts without stable residences at social welfare facilities; and provide additional funding to localities to support drug prevention and control efforts.

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

In his concluding remarks at the conference, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam, Chairman of the National Committee for HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control and the Prevention of Drug Abuse and Prostitution, highly appreciated the decisive involvement and coordinated efforts of ministries, sectors, and localities in the prevention and control of AIDS, drug abuse, and prostitution.

Looking ahead, Comrade Vu Duc Dam requested that agencies and localities effectively implement the 2018 plan; focus on decisive implementation, aiming for the 90-90-90 target by 2020, ensuring that 90% of people diagnosed with HIV receive ARV treatment by 2018.

Ministries, sectors, and localities should innovate in disseminating information and warning about the dangers of synthetic drugs and new psychoactive substances; regarding voluntary drug rehabilitation in the community, attention should be paid to creative approaches, depending on the local situation, to improve effectiveness. In the fight against prostitution, localities need to reduce prostitution hotspots, prevent the emergence of new ones, and strive to reduce the number of hotspots by half by 2018 compared to 2017.

For some legal documents that still have many unresolved issues, relevant ministries and agencies are requested to review and promptly issue appropriate legal documents.

At the conference, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam and leaders of ministries and agencies inaugurated the Methadone treatment information management system, ensuring that drug addicts receiving Methadone treatment can continue their treatment regardless of their location. After the system is put into operation, by June 2018, the management of drug addicts receiving Methadone treatment will be completely digitized.

Thanh Son