November 22, 2017 | 18:18 (GMT+7)
Hanoi: Various activities held during HIV/AIDS prevention month
Various activities are underway in Hanoi to promote early HIV testing so as to achieve the 90 - 90 - 90 targets by 2020, also the theme of this year’s action month for HIV/AIDS prevention and control from November 10 to December 10.
Deputy Director of the municipal
Preventive Medicine Center La Thi Lan said during the month, Hanoi will hold
conferences and workshops on community-based HIV testing and assess the
implementation of the 90 - 90 - 90 targets.
These targets aim that by 2020, 90
percent of all people with HIV know their HIV status, 90 percent of all people
with diagnosed HIV will receive sustained antiretroviral therapy, and 90
percent of all people receiving antiretroviral therapy will have viral
suppression.
Hanoi is promoting early HIV testing. Photo for illustration: nguoiduatin.vn
Different activities to help prevent
HIV/AIDS and raise public awareness have been implemented across 30 districts
and townships in Hanoi.
They include the distribution of more than 1.7 million free syringes and more
than 260,000 free condoms to female sex workers and gay men.
Since the beginning of 2017, the
local health sector has worked with non-Governmental organizations to expand
HIV screening at the communal and ward level. There are 14 advisory offices on
voluntary HIV testing at the district level currently.
Lan said the municipal Department of
Health will run communication activities to raise public awareness, focusing on
eradicating HIV stigma and discrimination, the benefits of early HIV testing
and periodic testing for high-risk groups, and the benefits of antiretroviral
therapy and early access to HIV/AIDS treatment services.
Eighteen establishments providing
methadone treatment for HIV patients have worked effectively in Hanoi. As of the end of
September, about 4,800 persons with HIV had received methadone treatment in the
capital, Lan noted, adding that methadone replacement therapy has resulted in
positive outcomes, helping improve drug abusers’ health and reduce the use of
heroin.
Hanoi recorded 982 new HIV cases in the
first nine months of 2017. The Asian Epidemic Model forecasts the number of
HIV-infected people in the city to exceed 27,000 by 2020.
Source: VNA