UNAIDS and WHO commend Viet Nam's progress in HIV and urge continued action

Press release

30 NOVEMBER 2010 | HANOI - Exemplary political commitment of the Government of Viet Nam in responding to its HIV epidemic over the past 20 years has led to solid results in scaling up prevention and treatment, including harm reduction among drug users and provision of life-saving treatment for people living with HIV, according to senior UNAIDS and WHO officials speaking at a joint press briefing for World AIDS Day.

Underlining the 2010 World AIDS Day theme of "universal access and human rights" Mr Steve Kraus, UNAIDS Asia-Pacific Regional Director and Dr Gottfried Hirnschall, WHO's Director of HIV/AIDS Department urged Viet Nam to continue to expand and increase its efforts, particularly to ensure that the key affected populations in the country—men who have sex with men, people who inject drugs and sex workers—have access to comprehensive HIV services.

"We have seen significant progress in Viet Nam," said Mr Steve Kraus. "The rate of new HIV infections has stabilized and there are fewer people dying from HIV. But to sustain progress and reach universal access we must reach out further to key affected populations and ensure all programmes are firmly grounded in human rights principles. People must be able to access HIV services where they feel safe and are ensured the best possible confidential care, without fear of stigmatization."

Viet Nam’s HIV epidemic is concentrated among people who inject drugs, sex workers and men who have sex with men. Nearly one in five injecting drug users are living with HIV nationwide, and in some areas of the country HIV prevalence in this key population is more than 50%. A 2009 study found that HIV prevalence among female sex workers in 10 provinces was 8.5%, varying from 0.3% to 23%. Across Viet Nam, an estimated 243 000 people were living with the disease at the end of 2009.