Vietnam gained satisfactory achievements in preventing AIDS, drug addiction and prostitution in 2009 thanks to concerted efforts by ministries, localities and international organisations.

Deputy Prime Minister Truong Vinh Trong, who is also Chairman of the National Committee for AIDS, Drug Addiction and Prostitution Prevention, made the statement at a year-end talk between the committee, foreign embassies, international organisations and donors in Hanoi on November 30.

The numbers of newly-found drug addicts and HIV/AIDS cases remarkably decreased and access to HIV/AIDS treatment rose 10 percent within the last year, Trong said.

In 2010, the committee will focus on providing people with basic knowledge on ways to prevent HIV infection and reducing their discriminations against HIV/AIDS victims, said Trong. He added that it will also expand the model of methadone treatment for drug addicts and boost the study of producing methadone in the country.

On the occasion, Trong thanked the community of international organisations in Vietnam for their effective assistance in the past, especially for training in human resources, contributing ideas to the country’s policymaking and exchanging experiences in preventing AIDS, drug addiction and prostitution.

Trong expressed his wish that in the coming time, Vietnam will receive more effective cooperation and support from the community of international organisations in the fight.

At the talk, representatives of international organisations congratulated Vietnam on its achievements in AIDS, drug addiction and prostitution prevention and praised the country’s efforts in the work./.