Number of Vietnamese Infected with HIV Jumps 120.6% m/m in March: Ministry

The number of newly-found people living with HIV (PLWH) in Vietnam in March skyrocketed by 120.6% to 578 from the previous month, state media reported, citing the Ministry of Health. In March, the number of AIDS patients rose by 22.8% on month to 441 while the number of AIDS-caused deaths jumped 132.1% on month to 253. Comparing to the same period last year, the number of PLWHs soared 146%, that of AIDS patients increased 85.3%, and that of AIDS-related deaths rose 132.1% in the month, the ministry said, giving no specific figures. As of March 17, 2017, Vietnam had 215,946 PLWHs, including 88,492 AIDS patients. The country is now home to 277 Methadone treatment facilities in all 63 cities and provinces. The medical stations are providing treatment to more than 50,000 PLWHs. To better treatment to PLWHs, the Ministry of Health is building a plan to ease discrimination against PLWHs at medical stations. (Tieng Chuong April 26)