The number of new HIV infections in Vietnam began to slow down

In recent years, the number of new HIV infections every year is still high but there are signs of slowing down. In 2004 there were more than 14,000 new cases. This number dropped to 13,700 last year and 8,300 in the first 10 months of this year.

(Photo: CNN.com) Thus, in previous years, Vietnam had an average of nearly 1,200 HIV infected people each month, in 2006, the number dropped to 830 people. According to experts, this proves that the efforts to prevent HIV / AIDS in Vietnam have been effective.

Dr. Duong Quoc Trong, Director of the Department of HIV / AIDS Prevention and Control, said that by the end of October, the cumulative number of HIV cases in Vietnam had reached more than 112,000 people. Nearly 11,200 AIDS deaths have been recorded. Each year, about 6,000 pregnant women and 2,000 babies are infected with the virus that causes AIDS.

Although the number of HIV-infected people treated with antiviral drugs has increased many times compared to before, nearly 6,200 patients, but this number is still too small compared to 40,000 people who need the drug.

Lack of funding is one of the major difficulties of the HIV / AIDS prevention program. The budget for this work increases every year. In the 2000-2004 period, the State granted 60 billion VND each year, 82 billion VND this year and 105 billion VND next year. However, from now to 2010, Vietnam still lacks VND 6,400 billion (equivalent to USD 400 million) to meet the needs of HIV / AIDS prevention and control.

HH