Campaign launched in HCM city in respond to Action Month against HIV/AIDS

Deputy Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Center, Nguyen anh Phong (L); director Ngoc Duyen (2nd, L) , actress Hong Anh (2nd, R), MC Phuoc Lap (R). Source: SGGP

A campaign titled “30 years of emotion” marking World AIDS Day (on December 1) and the National Action Month for HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control 2020 has been launched in Ho Chi Minh City on November 15 with the participation of Miss Universe Vietnam 2017, H’Hen Nie; the first runner-up of beauty contests, 2007 Miss Vietnamese Ethnic Groups and 2006 Miss Vietnam Photogenic contest.

The highlight event is the night of “30 years of emotion” featuring stories of people living with or affected by HIV, memories of health workers and volunteers that will take place on November 29.

The campaign aiming at raising public awareness of HIV/AIDS and strengthening the HIV/AIDS prevention and control activities will run until December 15.

Vietnam has been striving to carry out relevant prevention activities over the past 30 years since the first case of HIV was detected in 1990, and has achieved a number of positive results. However, HIV infection remains complicated and the rate is increasing in some high-risk groups, including among men who have sex with men, known as MSM, and drug addicts.

Most notably, each year approximately 10,000 new HIV cases are recorded, along with between 2,000 and 3,000 deaths nationwide. Indeed, the highest number of fatalities was recorded among people under the age of 30.

The National Assembly on November 16 approved a revised law on HIV/AIDS prevention and control. Scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2021, the law will add a number of groups, including those at high-risk who will be prioritised to access information, education, and relevant communication on HIV/AIDS prevention and control.

The new law is set to expand the participation of HIV-infected people and those at high-risk in a number of anti-HIV/AIDS measures. In addition, it will supplement pre-exposure preventive treatment measures in an effort to increase the effectiveness of HIV transmission prevention among those at risk of exposure to the virus.

 Kim Khanh