Vietnam sets up state AIDS control strategy
HANOI - Vietnam has set up a state AIDScontrol strategy for the
2001-2005 period to curb the spread ofthe HIV/AIDS in the country.
Under the strategy, as many as 40 provinces and cities of thecountry will be able to
evaluate and provide information on HIV/AIDS infection in their localities, according to
a report of alocal business newspaper Vietnam Investment Review on Monday.
The strategy with the minimum investment capital of 714 billion Vietnamese dong
(VND) (47.6 million U.S. dollars) also includes screening of 100 percent of blood
banks for HIV before any transfusions are carried out
By 2005, 90 percent of the infected patients and all infected pregnant women are to
receive care and counselling.Pilot centers will be set up for the country's HIV infected
children, initially in provinces where there are more than 1,000 HIV carriers.
The HIV/AIDS epidemic in Vietnam is spreading at an explosiverate with the total
number of HIV-infected people rising to 46,344,of which 6,708 have developed AIDS.
It is estimated that by 2005 the number of Vietnamese people infected with HIV will
reach 200,000, of which more than 50,000 will develop AIDS and 45,000 will die.
Xinhuanet - May 6, 2002
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