Organisations involved in HIV/AIDS prevention and control need to chase funding as sources are drying up, a workshop in Hanoi on April 24 was told.

The two-day workshop was titled Reviewing Financial Mechanisms and Building New Ones organised by the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations (VUSTA).

The workshop discussed a reduction in funding from international sources and the State budget. There is now just enough to meet 50 percent of HIV/AIDS project needs at a time when activities are increasing.

The workshop focused on reviewing all laws and Government documents for financial mechanisms and policies related to HIV/AIDS prevention and control.

Dr Pham Van Tan, VUSTA Vice President, said that based on what was found, new solutions would have to be sought.

Hoang Thi Hien, a member on the National Committee for HIV/AIDS, Drugs and Prostitution Prevention and Control, said that the State-funded National Target Programme on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control for 2012-15 would end this year.

"This poses a challenge," Hien said. She added that although the HIV/AIDS Law encouraged businesses to engage in HIV/AIDS prevention and control activities, many showed little or no interest or their efforts were half-hearted.

The workshop was told that 80 percent of the funds available for HIV/AIDS prevention and control in Vietnam had come from international sources.

The money has been used to fund communications, consultation, testing, for emergency treatment and monitoring.-VNA