Vietnam's president visits HIV/AIDS ward
HANOI - Vietnam's president visited an HIV/AIDS hospital ward in Hanoi on Wednesday in a bid to reduce the stigma surrounding the disease and prove that the communist country's leaders are committed to tackling it.
President Tran Duc Luong spoke with several HIV/AIDS patients in Bach Mai Hospital before addressing a room full of medical workers and international representatives about the need for HIV/AIDS prevention, care and education.
"All of us should have a correct attitude and not discriminate against HIV/AIDS carriers," Luong said. "They should be able to enjoy all legitimate rights like other ordinary people."
Minister of Health Tran Thi Trung Chien said discrimination and fear surrounding HIV/AIDS have become so widespread in Vietnam that hospital workers are afraid to tell their friends and families that they care for patients infected with the virus.
The disease has largely been confined in Vietnam to high-risk groups such as sex workers and intravenous drug users. However, health experts say the epidemic is on the brink of exploding into the general population with infections on pace to increase eightfold to 1 million by 2010.
HIV/AIDS often gets lumped in with Vietnam's so-called "social evils" which also include drug use and prostitution. International aid workers say they are working to change that.
"HIV is a disease, not a social evil," said Jordan Ryan, head of the U.N. Development Program in Vietnam. "HIV can affect people who engage in high-risk behaviors, but it also affects children, faithful spouses and young couples."
U.S. President George W. Bush selected Vietnam in June as one of 15 countries to receive HIV/AIDS funding from a US$15 billion global AIDS plan. The program will add an additional US$10 million this year to the US$8 million Vietnam was already receiving from the U.S. government.
Vietnam has recorded more than 81,000 HIV-positive cases, according to the Ministry of Health. Health officials, however, believe the number of HIV-infected people is closer to 200,000.
The Associated Press - August 25, 2004.
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