Press Release for World AIDS Day December 1

Urgent action needed to address HIV/AIDS epidemic in Viet Nam, says United Nations

Hanoi, 28 November 2003 - The HIV epidemic in Viet Nam is increasing and accelerating. Viet Nam's leadership and society must act now to address this serious problem, says senior United Nations officials.

Despite the work of the Ministry of Health and other national institutions, the data shows that the number of reported HIV cases continues to increase. HIV is found in every province, and in most communes too. Today, there are more than 72,000 reported cases of HIV.

There are three important trends. Firstly, the number of cases is increasing. Secondly, the epidemic is spreading to the general population. And thirdly, HIV is an epidemic of young people, and the proportion of cases that are aged 15 to 30 years is increasing.

The theme for this year’s World AIDS Day is: "fighting stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS". Mrs. Nancy Fee, UNAIDS Country Coordinator in Viet Nam stated that: "Stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS is resulting in social isolation, and serious abuses of people’s rights. The link between ‘social evils’ and HIV adds to the problem of stigma and discrimination, and makes HIV prevention programmes more difficult and costly. "

Reflecting on the priorities for Viet Nam, Mr. Jordan Ryan, UN Resident Coordinator, UNDP Resident Representative and Chairperson of the UN Theme Group on HIV/AIDS in Viet Nam stated that: "Our main message is: Act NOW. To be effective, a national response to HIV/AIDS must be led by the most senior leaders themselves. The first priority is to engage the Party, National Assembly and the Government in leading and promoting the national response to the epidemic."

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For more information, please contact UNAIDS Viet Nam, telephone (84 4) 934-3417, fax (84 4) 934-3418, or unaids@netnam.org.vn . You may also visit the UNAIDS Home Page on the Internet for more information about the programme (http://www.unaids.org).