A poster of the national action month for HIV/AIDS prevention and control (Source: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – “One House”, the second part of the play “Three in one”, featuring thelives of HIV/AIDS patients will be performed at the Kim Ma Theatre in Hanoi onDecember 1 night to mark World AIDS Day (December 1).
The show,organised by the Vietnam National Dramma Theatre and The US President's EmergencyPlan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), is part of activities during the national actionmonth for HIV/AIDS prevention and control from Nov 10 - Dec 10, themed“Towards 90-90-90 targets.”
The show will hitseveral provinces and cities during the month, including the central provincesof Nghe An, Ha Tinh, and Da Nang city, according to the HIV/AIDS Prevention andControl Office.
Other activities includethe 5th national press award on HIV/AIDS to be held in Bac Ninh onDecember 9, and meetings and parades across the nation.
A conference willbe held to discuss payment for national procurement of Anti-retroviral (ARV) therapy sourcedfrom health insurance, and provide support for patients treated with ARVs.
According to theHIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Office, Vietnam has reduced the number ofpeople with HIV to below 0.3 percent of the population. In the fist half ofthis year, as many as 3,684 new HIV cases were detected. In 2015, the figurewas about 10,000. HIV-linked deaths also declined from 3,200 to 2,000 duringthe past five years.
In 2014, Vietnamwas the first Asian nation to commit to the “90-90-90 target” set by the UNProgramme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) to end HIV/AIDS in Vietnam by 2020.
The programme calls for 90 percent of all people living with HIV to know theirHIV status, 90 percent of all people diagnosed with HIV receiving sustainedantiretroviral (ARV) therapy and 90 percent of people on ARV treatment havingdurable viral suppression by 2020.
USAID began a programme on HIV/AIDS prevention and control in Vietnam in the90s.
In June, 2004,PEPFAR began providing aid for Vietnam for combating the disease.
Under the Plan, USAID has coordinated with relevant bodies from Vietnam and theUS to realise its goals in the National Strategy on HIV/AIDS Prevention andControl in Vietnam.
As of June 2015, there were 227,114 people living with HIV in Vietnam, 71,115of whom had progressed to AIDS.-VNA
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