At the event (Photo: VNA)Lao Cai (VNA) - The National Assembly's SocialAffairs Committee, on September 24, organised a workshop to collect feedback onthe draft revised Law On Drug Prevention and Control and Law on amendments andsupplements to several articles of the Law on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control.
Taking place in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai’sSa Pa town, the event gathered nearly 100 delegates from the committee, the Administration for HIV/AIDSControl, the UNAIDS programme, the Drug Crime InvestigationDepartment, and Department of Social Vices Prevention and Combat.Representatives of centres for disease control and Departments of Labour,Invalids and Social Affairs of many northern localities also attended.
Participants agreed upon the necessity of amending the lawsto create a favourable legal framework for the work and ensure theinstitutionalisation of related Party’s guidelines and policies.
Nguyen Thi Bich Hue from the UNAIDS programme suggestedchanging and number of terms related to HIV/AIDS to ease social stigma againstHIV and to put human at the centre instead of the disease.
Hue also recommended removing or changing the age at which aperson can take voluntary HIV tests, which is currently 16 years old and above.
Many participants agreed with the suggestion, saying that incase the removal of the stipulation is not possible, under-15 people who arepregnant or at risk of being infected should be allowed to take consultationsand tests with the support of a medical worker or a trained social worker.
Representatives of centres for disease control anddepartments of Lao Cai, Nam Dinh, Lai Chau, Hai Phong and Quang Ninh pointed toa number of shortcomings in implementation of the law on HIV/AIDS control, andasked for prompt amendments and supplements to encourage concerted engagementof the community in the fight against HIV to achieve the goal of eradicatingthe disease in 2030./.
VNA
