The UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) projects have helped improvedrug and HIV awareness among ethnic minority people in four northernmountainous provinces since they were launched in 2008.
This assessment was revealed at a conference in Hanoi on March 12to review the UNODC projects to prevent drug abuse and HIV amongVietnamese ethnic minority people and provide technical assistance fordetoxification and rehabilitation at centres and in the community.
Speaking at the event, UNODC Office Director Zhuldyz Akisheva saidUNODC will increase technical and financial support in order to make itsdetoxification service packages more suitable to each locality.
Through the projects, which have been implemented in 27 communes inLao Cai, Son La, Yen Bai and Dien Bien provinces, ethnic minority peoplehave been now more aware of the harmful effects and dangers of drugsand HIV, making an effective contribution to preventing the spread ofdrug use and HIV in their communities.
Participants at the conference pointed out difficulties during theimplementation of the projects such as poor road infrastructure causingslow and dangerous travel, low educational level and unsound customs intarget localities.
They suggested educationdissemination work be in diverse forms with easily understandablecontent, to allow easy understanding by ethnic minority people.-VNA