Deputy PM calls for improved HIV/AIDS, drug and prostitution prevention

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam has praised the efforts made by the central agencies and local authorities in the fight against HIV/AIDS drug and prostitution over 2017, while urging for the facilitation of the work in the coming year.

Deputy PM Vu Duc Dam and delegates at the conference launch a methadone treatment management system to ensure that continuous treatment is provided for drug users. (Credit: VGP).

The Deputy PM, who is also Chairman of the National Committee for HIV/AIDS, Drug and Prostitution Prevention and Control, presided over a teleconference with the relevant central agencies and local authorities across 63 provinces and cities nationwide, on December 8, reviewing the committee’s operations in 2017 and deploying the 2018 tasks.

Reports released at the event show that, by the end of 2017, the country will have discovered about 9,800 newly-infected HIV cases, with 1,800 cases leading to deaths. Compared to 2016, the figure is down by 1.1% in terms of new infections and 15% in the number of deaths. The number of people living with H is at over 208,000; about 122,000 HIV-infected people are currently receiving ARV treatment and the figure will reach 124,000 by the end of 2017.

For drug prevention and control, Senior Lieutenant General Le Quy Vuong, Deputy Minister of Public Security, said that drug crime remains complicated, with the functional forces having detected and arrested 22,346 cases, with 34,494 subjects (an increase of 3,031 cases and 3,493 subjects), seizing 906.7 kg of heroin and nearly 1 million synthetic drug capsules.

At present, there are 222,582 drug addicts with management records, an increase of 11,831 compared with 2016, of which the majority of the newly-detected addicts are using synthetic drugs and psychotropic substances. Notably, the methadone treatment programme has been implemented in all 63 provinces and cities, with 294 facilities and 52,818 patients.

Deputy PM Dam said that despite the fact that the number of people infected with HIV/AIDS has fallen for the ninth consecutive year, implementing the 90-90-90 target by 2020 is still a challenge. According to him, the hardest criterion is to have 90% of people living with H receiving ARV treatment, as the current rate in Vietnam is at about 50%.

With regards to the complex drug issues, the Deputy PM stated that the relevant ministries, sectors and localities need to renovate their treatment methods for drug users, under the guidelines of the Ministry of Health, while promoting media campaigns through clips and programmes to warn the whole society about the harmful effects of synthetic drug use. The renovation of community-based detoxification should continue to be focused on, to ensure the benefits for patients whilst maintaining social order and safety, the government official suggested.

On the occasion, Deputy PM Dam and the delegates at the conference launched the methadone treatment management system at http://methadone.vaac.gov.vn. Following the implementation of this system, the management of methadone treatment patients will be fully computerised by June 2018.

(Source: NDO)