The World Bank will continue its support by providing 2.2 billion VND (104,700 USD) for the implementation of a HIV/AIDS prevention project in the central city of Da Nang.

This information was released at a meeting on Feb. 22 to launch the project’s activities in 2012.

To achieve its objective and keep the HIV/AIDS transmission rate among the community at less than 0.15 percent, the project aims to increase the percentage of female sex workers using condoms to 85 percent, and drug users using clean sterilised needles and syringes to 80 percent in the first half of the year at project sites.

To achieve that, the project management board will continue to update hotspots of sex workers and drug users; maintain and ensure the quality of the group peer educators and maintain the network of 31 drug stores that provide needles and syringes free of charge for drug users.

The WB-funded HIV/AIDS prevention project started in Da Nang’s Hai Chau, Thanh Khe, Lien Chieu and Son Tra districts in 2009.-VNA