Deputy PM urges for further efforts to end HIV/AIDS epidemic by 2030

The senior government official was speaking at a meeting held in Bac Giang City in Bac Giang Province on December 1 to launch the 2019 National Action Month on HIV/AIDS and to observe World AIDS Day, which falls on December 1 each year.

According to the Organising Committee, the theme of the month this year is "Working together to end the AIDS epidemic," aiming to realise Vietnam's commitment and determination to meet the 90-90-90 goals, paving the way for putting an end to the HIV/AIDS epidemic by 2030.

Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy PM Dam said that Vietnam is at the last stage in joining the world in ending the epidemic by 2030. In Vietnam, 2019 is the 11th year in a row, the number of newly diagnosed HIV-infected people, the number of people turning to AIDS and the number of people dying of the disease has decreased.

Dam, who is also Chairman of the National Committee for AIDS, Drugs and Prostitution Prevention and Control, urged for better coordination among the relevant units at all levels in HIV/AIDS prevention and control to achieve the objectives set out in the Action Month. In which treatment needs to be focused on to let people living with HIV know their status and to provide them timely access to ARV treatment as soon as possible.

Expressing his sincere thanks to all the domestic authorities, social organisations, international units, media agencies and people for their response to HIV/AIDS prevention and control activities in Vietnam, Dam said he believes that with concrete and practical actions, Vietnam will effectively implement the Government's commitment to the United Nations organisations, making it one of the leading countries in ending the epidemic.