On Sunday, as many as 2,500 residents from across Da Nang, and representatives from municipal departments and agencies plus some from international organisations, attended a meeting in the city in response to World AIDS Day (1 December).

Participants at the meeting (Photo: http://vaac.gov.vn)

Addressing the event, Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long highlighted the numerous remarkable achievements Viet Nam has recorded in the fight against HIV/AIDS over the past 26 years.  This has been mainly attributed to the great leadership of the Party, as well as to the high consensus between residents and all levels of departments and agencies nationwide.  

Deputy Minister Long remarked, “The year 2016 is the 9^th consecutive year that Viet Nam has seen a dramatic decrease in the numbers of new HIV-infected people, HIV cases developing into full-blown AIDS, and AIDS-related deaths.  The country has provided effective care, support and treatment for HIV/AIDS patients, as well as actively responded to the goals set by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).”

He took the opportunity to appeal for authorities and Party committees throughout the country to join efforts to boost HIV/AIDS prevention with a focus on implementing screening tests for the early detection of HIV infections for timely treatment.  Special attention should be paid to aiming for no new HIV infections in the country, no death from AIDS, and no discrimination against HIV/AIDS-infected people.  

Municipal People’s Committee Vice Chairman Dang Viet Dung said that Da Nang has been actively involved in the care, support and treatment of HIV carriers.  In addition, a methadone maintenance treatment programme for drug addicts and free-of-charge HIV testing services have been effectively implemented in the city.