Half a million copies of a booklet intended to help lower the incidenceof AIDS and combat discrimination against children with the disease willbe distributed to schools and the broader community.
The publication, titled Facts on Children and HIV/AIDS was publiclylaunched on August 23 in Hanoi . It has been sponsored by the UnitedNations Fund for Children (UNICEF).
It was draftedby experts from the Ministry of Education and Training (MoET), theWomen's Union and the Ministry of Labour, War Invalids and SocialAffairs (MoLISA).
It provides information in simplelanguage and format to address commonly held misconceptions about HIV,which have led to discrimination of children, and adults, infected withit.
These include the belief held by many that allHIV-positive mothers give birth to HIV-positive children. However, therate of transmission is only about two to eight per cent if the motheruses anti-retroviral medicine (ARV) before and after giving birth.
The booklet points out that with adequate health-care, children with HIV can study and live normal lives.
"We hope the book will soon become the gold standard for preventingthe stigmatisation of children with HIV," said Eamonn Murphy, UNAIDSrepresentative in Vietnam .
Nguyen Trong An,deputy director of the Child Protection and Care Department underMoLISA, said discrimination against HIV children was pervasive.
He said the booklet should provide teachers with factual informationon HIV/AIDS so that teachers and others can deal effectively withquestions and inquiries.
Murphy, however, said thatthe booklet itself would not make a difference. "We strongly believe howit will be used matters," he said.
He suggested itbe used to help discussions in schools and in the community to addressgaps in the knowledge about the disease.
Ngu DuyAnh, director of the Department of Students' Affairs under MoET, saidthat he expected more booklets may be printed so that every teacher canhave one.
Le Thi Luong (not her real name), aged 12,from Hai Phong City , received HIV from her mother. However, shehas finished primary school and is entering sixth grade next month atLe Chan Secondary School in the city.
The smiling girl said she had many friends in her class.
"My best friends, Mai, Khanh and Hang, and I often go to schooltogether," she said. "We have also been playing together since we werein grade two."
A teacher at Le Chan Secondary Highs, said Phuong Anh was not the only HIV-affected child to study at the school.
"School managers and teachers did not hesitate to receive her into our family," she said.
This is because the school had been active in providing every teacher and student with information on HIV/AIDS.
"I think education on this issue is important. Every child should havethe right to access education regardless of their health status. Thisbook will be a significant part of that effort," Nghia said./.
The publication, titled Facts on Children and HIV/AIDS was publiclylaunched on August 23 in Hanoi . It has been sponsored by the UnitedNations Fund for Children (UNICEF).
It was draftedby experts from the Ministry of Education and Training (MoET), theWomen's Union and the Ministry of Labour, War Invalids and SocialAffairs (MoLISA).
It provides information in simplelanguage and format to address commonly held misconceptions about HIV,which have led to discrimination of children, and adults, infected withit.
These include the belief held by many that allHIV-positive mothers give birth to HIV-positive children. However, therate of transmission is only about two to eight per cent if the motheruses anti-retroviral medicine (ARV) before and after giving birth.
The booklet points out that with adequate health-care, children with HIV can study and live normal lives.
"We hope the book will soon become the gold standard for preventingthe stigmatisation of children with HIV," said Eamonn Murphy, UNAIDSrepresentative in Vietnam .
Nguyen Trong An,deputy director of the Child Protection and Care Department underMoLISA, said discrimination against HIV children was pervasive.
He said the booklet should provide teachers with factual informationon HIV/AIDS so that teachers and others can deal effectively withquestions and inquiries.
Murphy, however, said thatthe booklet itself would not make a difference. "We strongly believe howit will be used matters," he said.
He suggested itbe used to help discussions in schools and in the community to addressgaps in the knowledge about the disease.
Ngu DuyAnh, director of the Department of Students' Affairs under MoET, saidthat he expected more booklets may be printed so that every teacher canhave one.
Le Thi Luong (not her real name), aged 12,from Hai Phong City , received HIV from her mother. However, shehas finished primary school and is entering sixth grade next month atLe Chan Secondary School in the city.
The smiling girl said she had many friends in her class.
"My best friends, Mai, Khanh and Hang, and I often go to schooltogether," she said. "We have also been playing together since we werein grade two."
A teacher at Le Chan Secondary Highs, said Phuong Anh was not the only HIV-affected child to study at the school.
"School managers and teachers did not hesitate to receive her into our family," she said.
This is because the school had been active in providing every teacher and student with information on HIV/AIDS.
"I think education on this issue is important. Every child should havethe right to access education regardless of their health status. Thisbook will be a significant part of that effort," Nghia said./.
