Deputy Prime Minister Truong Vinh Trong has asked northern Dien Bien province to increase awareness among Party members, local authorities and residents about the harmful effects of drugs, prostitution and HIV/AIDS.
Trong, who is also a Politburo member and Chairman of the National Committee on AIDS, Drugs and Prostitution Control, made the request during a working visit to the province on Nov. 2 and 3.
He instructed the province to mobilise all political and community resources to fight against the social evils.
The province was also asked to organise a proper health system to meet the treatment needs of drug addicts and those who are HIV-positive and upgrade rehabilitation centres at the same time.
Trong said the province should pay more attention to improving the lives of local residents, especially those who lived with HIV/AIDS.
He instructed the Ministry of Health to provide further training courses to local health staff, develop human resources and invest in rehabilitation services.
In a report on HIV/AIDS, drugs and prostitution, provincial People's Committee vice chairman Pham Xuan Koi said there were about 4,890 people living with HIV/AIDS in Dien Bien province; 2,334 of whom had full blown AIDS. On average, about three new people were reported to be infected with HIV each day.
The trade, trafficking and use of drugs in the province have become a complicated issue with more than 5,450 drug addicts reported.
Koi said the provincial authorities had increased the dissemination of anti-retroviral treatment and successfully provided treatment to 85 percent of those infected with HIV. Extensive HIV/AIDS testing had been carried out in all of the province's districts.
The province is currently implementing four methadone treatment programmes in Muong Ang, Muong Cha, Tuan Giao and Dien Bien districts.
During his stay in Dien Bien, Trong visited several methadone rehabilitation centres./.
Trong, who is also a Politburo member and Chairman of the National Committee on AIDS, Drugs and Prostitution Control, made the request during a working visit to the province on Nov. 2 and 3.
He instructed the province to mobilise all political and community resources to fight against the social evils.
The province was also asked to organise a proper health system to meet the treatment needs of drug addicts and those who are HIV-positive and upgrade rehabilitation centres at the same time.
Trong said the province should pay more attention to improving the lives of local residents, especially those who lived with HIV/AIDS.
He instructed the Ministry of Health to provide further training courses to local health staff, develop human resources and invest in rehabilitation services.
In a report on HIV/AIDS, drugs and prostitution, provincial People's Committee vice chairman Pham Xuan Koi said there were about 4,890 people living with HIV/AIDS in Dien Bien province; 2,334 of whom had full blown AIDS. On average, about three new people were reported to be infected with HIV each day.
The trade, trafficking and use of drugs in the province have become a complicated issue with more than 5,450 drug addicts reported.
Koi said the provincial authorities had increased the dissemination of anti-retroviral treatment and successfully provided treatment to 85 percent of those infected with HIV. Extensive HIV/AIDS testing had been carried out in all of the province's districts.
The province is currently implementing four methadone treatment programmes in Muong Ang, Muong Cha, Tuan Giao and Dien Bien districts.
During his stay in Dien Bien, Trong visited several methadone rehabilitation centres./.
