UNAIDS Press Release - October 18, 2004

Dr Cravero reaffirmed the commitment of the United Nations and the international community to support the development and implementation of national AIDS strategies. "By adopting the National AIDS Strategy, Prime Minister Phan Van Khai has underscored the urgent need to act now to contain the growing AIDS epidemic in Viet Nam," she said.

According to Viet Nam's Ministry of Health, an estimated 215,000 people were living with HIV by end 2003. This means that 1 in 75 households in Viet Nam already has a family member living with HIV. "This is a tragedy for Viet Nam, and for thousands of families across the country," said Dr Cravero.

Viet Nam is receiving increased funds for AIDS programmes from donors, including the US and European Union governments, the World Bank, and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria. These funds will support the expansion of HIV prevention, treatment, care and support for thousands of people living with HIV and their families. Dr Cravero urged the government and donors to increase AIDS funding to the Ministries of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA), and Education and Training (MOET).

Stigma and discrimination against people living with or affected by HIV/AIDS is a growing problem in Viet Nam. "Viet Nam President Tran Duc Luong's recent visit with people living with HIV was an important step in fighting the stigma surrounding HIV," stated Dr Cravero.

An increasing number of reported HIV cases in Viet Nam are among women, who also bear the brunt of care and support for family members living with HIV. "Although Viet Nam's National AIDS Strategy addresses gender, we hope that ministries will take urgent action to address the needs of women," said Dr Cravero. "In Viet Nam, as in other countries, issues like domestic violence, lack of women's legal rights, and young women's limited access to HIV education and services are fuelling the epidemic."

During her five-day visit to Viet Nam, Dr Cravero met with Viet Nam's Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Khiem, Health Minister Tran Thi Trung Chien, and Madame Ha Thi Khiet, Chairperson of the Viet Nam Women's Union. She also visited Haiphong, where she met with the provincial health authorities, groups undertaking HIV/AIDS activities, and drug and sex work rehabilitation centres.

*********

Kathleen Cravero is the Deputy Executive Director of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). She has over two decades of experience in international development, and has worked for four UN organizations: - the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and, at present, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). Since March 2003, Ms Cravero has been leading the development of the Global Coalition on Women and AIDS, a broad-based network of partners and organizations working to mitigate the impact of AIDS in women and girls worldwide.

For more information, please contact UNAIDS Viet Nam, tel. +84 4 734 2824 For more information about UNAIDS Viet Nam, please visit www.unaids.orgn.vn. For general information about UNAIDS, visit www.unaids.org

041018
UN041003

Copyright © 2004 - Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). All rights reserved. UNAIDS articles, which are not formal publications of UNAIDS, may be freely reviewed, quoted, reproduced or translated, in part or in full, provided the source is acknowledged. The documents may not be sold or used in conjunction with commercial purposes without prior written approval from UNAIDS (contact: UNAIDS Information Centre).

AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted grants from Boehringer Ingelheim, Elton John AIDS Foundation, Bridgestone/Firestone Charitable Trust, the National Library of Medicine, and donations from users like you. Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 2004. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.

AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.

Copyright ©1980, 2004. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content. .