Nghe An holds rally in response to World HIV/AIDS Day

The rally and parade in response to World HIV/AIDS Day took place at Dang Thuc Hua High School. Photo: Thanh Chung

On the morning of November 29, at Dang Thuc Hua High School (Vo Liet Commune, Thanh Chuong District), the Provincial Steering Committee for HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control coordinated with the People's Committee of Thanh Chuong District to organize a rally and parade in response to World HIV/AIDS Day December 1, 2020.

Attending the ceremony were representatives of the Department of Health, District Party Committee, People's Committee of Thanh Chuong district, medical units in the province; teachers, students of Dang Thuc Hua High School and many people in the district.

Since the infected personHIVFirst discovered in 1990, Vietnam has now had 30 years of officially responding to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The HIV/AIDS pandemic continues to be a direct threat to the country's development and the future of the human race.

In recent years, the work of preventing and combatingHIV/AIDSNghe An province has achieved many important results. As of November 2020, Nghe An has 21/21 districts, towns and cities with people infected with HIV; 10,094 people infected with HIV were reported, of which the number of people who died from AIDS was 4,245. The number of people infected with HIV still alive is 5,849. The total number of patients receiving ARV treatment is 4,693 patients.

Associate Professor, Dr. Duong Dinh Chinh - Director of the Department of Health, Deputy Head of the Provincial Steering Committee for HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control called on Party committees at all levels, authorities, departments, branches, unions, social organizations and all people to actively implement the National Strategy for HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control to 2030. Photo: Thanh Chung

To date, Nghe An has achieved the target of over 87% of infected people knowing their status; 80.2% of infected people are being treated with ARV drugs. Treatment has been implemented in 21/21 districts, cities and towns with 25 care and treatment facilities. Drug distribution activities at communes and wards, mobile counseling, testing, distribution of syringes, condoms... have been implemented synchronously and have created clear changes in implementing the 90-90-90 targets.

However, Nghe An is the province with the highest number of HIV infected people, ranking 6th in the country. The HIV/AIDS epidemic is still in the concentrated stage, with complicated developments. The proportion of HIV infected people in the drug addict group accounts for 80%.

Speaking at the ceremony, Associate Professor, Dr. Duong Dinh Chinh - Director of the Department of Health, Deputy Head of the Provincial Steering Committee for HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control, clearly stated the theme of the National Action Month for HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control in 2020 "30 years of response and opportunity to end the AIDS pandemic in Vietnam"; calling on Party committees at all levels, authorities, departments, branches, unions, social organizations and all people to actively implement the National Strategy for HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control to 2030, with the goal of ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030.

Parade in response to World AIDS Day on December 1, 2020 and National Action Month for HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control in 2020. Photo: Thanh Chung

In particular, all levels and sectors need to consider the task of HIV/AIDS prevention and control as both urgent and long-term; pay attention to directing and coordinating the implementation of the National Action Month for HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control in 2020 to the grassroots and people, achieving high efficiency; well organize the implementation of the Law on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control and related resolutions, directives and decrees.

Everyone needs to actively participate in preventing and combating social evils and HIV/AIDS; regularly visit, encourage and care for those who are unfortunately infected, introduce them to treatment facilities so they can receive ARV antiretroviral treatment; encourage them to participate in HIV/AIDS prevention and control activities, drug rehabilitation, and help them take responsibility for preventing HIV infection in the community./.