At the meeting (Source: dangcongsan.vn) Da Nang (VNA) - Nearly 2,500 people, including representatives from ministries, departments, international organisations and local residents, attended a meeting in the central city of Da Nang on November 27 to call for non-discrimination against those living with HIV/AIDS.
The event aims to respond to the national action month for HIV/AIDS prevention and control, and mark the World AIDS Day (December 1).
Speaking at the event, Deputy Health Minister Nguyen Thanh Long highlighted the significant achievements Vietnam has made in HIV/AIDS prevention and control over the past 26 years.
The year 2016 marked the nine consecutive year Vietnam witnessed the reduction in the numbers of new HIV infections, cases of HIV developing into full-blown AIDS, and AIDS-related fatalities, Long said.
Vietnam has carried out comprehensive and effective measures to combat HIV/AIDS while focusing to care, support and cure people living with HIV/AIDS, he reiterated.
Vietnam has actively responded to the 90-90-90 goals set by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UN AIDS), that ensure at least 90 percent of all people with HIV will know their status, and that 90 percent of people diagnosed with HIV will receive sustained antiretroviral (ARV) therapy and, 90 percent of all people receiving ARV therapy will be diagnosed with viral suppression.
The Deputy Minister called for a drastic and joint effort to combat HIV/AIDS, with focus on early HIV/AIDS screening and testing.
Localities should also push forward with efforts to realise the Three-Zero target of no new HIV infection, no death from AIDS and no discrimination against HIV/AIDS carriers.
Ali Safarnejad from the UN AIDS said this year marked the second year in a row Vietnam observed World AIDS Day with a determination to realise the UN’s goals of 90-90-90 and look forward to end the epidemic by 2030.
He also underlined remarkable achievements Vietnam has made in HIV/AIDS prevention and control work, saying that around 80 percent of HIV-infected cases in Vietnam have been tested, diagnosed and aware of their situation, and over half of them are receiving ARV therapy, staying below viral suppression.
In Vietnam, about 10,000 HIV cases were detected in 2015, down from 18,000 in 2010. HIV-linked deaths also declined from 3,200 to 2,000 during the past five years.-VNA
VNA
