Illustrative image (Source: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – Hanoi has 20 HIV counseling andtesting points, 22 outpatient clinics and 18 centres that provide methadonetreatment for drug addicts.
Up to 85 percent of AIDS patients treated withantiretroviral (ARV) drugs have been given HIV testing, and more than 53percent of HIV carriers in the capital city are put under the ARV therapy.
The number of people living with HIV/AIDS in Hanoi stood atnearly 20,000 as of mid-year 2018, ranking second nationwide and making upabout 10 percent of the country’s total cases.
The city has, to date, recorded 6,000 deaths due toHIV/AIDS, with HIV carriers reported in all districts.
Apart from the increase of sexually transmitted infections, changesin population have hindered Hanoi’s efforts in controlling the epidemic.
Hanoi is making all-out effortsto achieve the 90-90-90 goals in HIV/AIDS prevention set by the United Nationsby 2020.
The 90-90-90 goals mean that by 2020, 90 percentof HIV-infected people will know their infection status, 90 percent willreceive ARV drugs and 90 percent of people taking ARV drugs will have durableviral suppression.
To that end, the city’s health sector has set forth adetailed plan which assigns specific tasks for towns and districts, whileconsolidating and expanding HIV/AIDS testing and treatment services, andintensifying communication work to raise public awareness of the disease.-VNA
VNA
