WHO Official Praises Vietnam’s Achievements in HIV/AIDS Fighting

The World Health Organization (WHO)’s Chief Representative in Vietnam Kidong Park has lauded the country’s efforts and achievements in preventing and fighting HIV/AIDS, at a conference in Hanoi on December 4, state media reported. At the event to review Vietnam’s 20-year fight against the epidemic, Mr. Park said Vietnam is one of a few countries in the Asia-Pacific with a significant growth in the coverage of antiretroviral (ARV) therapy. Besides, the country is active in helping HIV carriers in accessing testing and treating buy ARV and Methadone methods, especially for those in remote areas, the WHO official noted. Deputy Minister of Health Truong Quoc Cuong said Vietnam now has over 200,000 HIV alive HIV carriers and the country has so far recorded more than 100,000 deaths due to the disease. This year marks the 11th consecutive year that the country has put the epidemic under the control. Currently, over 140,000 HIV carriers are undergoing ARV therapy, nearly 5,000 under pre-exposure prophylaxis, and 54,000 under Methadone. (VTV, VTV, QDND, Nguoi Lao Dong, VOV, haiquanonline)