Dissemination of information on HIV/AIDS prevention and control in Vietnam

Dissemination of information on HIV/AIDS prevention and control in Vietnam (Internet image)

1. What is HIV/AIDS?

- HIV is the abbreviation of the English phrase Human Immunodeficiency Virus, which is the virus that causes the acquired immune deficiency syndrome in human, causing the body to lose the ability to fight disease-causing agents.

- AIDS is the abbreviation of the English phrase Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, which is caused by HIV, normally manifested by opportunistic infections and cancers, and may lead to death.

(Clause 1 and 2, Article 2 of the Law on HIV/AIDS prevention and control 2006 (amended in 2020))

2. Dissemination of information on HIV/AIDS prevention and control in Vietnam

According to Clause 1, Article 4 of Decree 63/2021/ND-CP, information on HIV/AIDS prevention and control to be disseminated includes:

- HIV causes and transmission routes, prevention measures for HIV infection and measures for caring and treatment of HIV-positive persons;

- Impacts of HIV/AIDS on human health and lives as well as socio - economic development;

- Rights and obligations of individuals and HIV-positive persons in HIV/AIDS prevention and control;

- Methods and services for testing, caring, supporting and treatment of HIV-positive persons;

- Intervention measures to reduce harm in HIV exposure prophylaxis;

- Prevention of discrimination against HIV-positive persons;

- Sexually transmitted infections and other healthcare contents;

- Guidelines of the Communist Party and policies and law of the State on HIV/AIDS prevention and control.

3. Methods for dissemination of information on HIV/AIDS prevention and control in Vietnam

Methods for dissemination of information on HIV/AIDS prevention and control include:

- Via means of communications such as speakers, panels, posters, motivational paintings; films containing information on HIV/AIDS prevention and control;

- Dissemination to groups of supervised persons divided by management facilities;

- Dissemination to each supervised persons;

- Dissemination via events such as competitions about HIV/AIDS prevention and control; performances and events containing information on HIV/AIDS prevention and control in celebration of events of management facilities or national month of action for HIV/AIDS prevention and control;

- Incorporating information on HIV/AIDS prevention and control into continuing education programs of management facilities;

- Distributing communicating documents and printed publications to supervised persons;

- Policies and law of the State on HIV/AIDS prevention and control shall be disseminated according to regulations in Article 21 of the Law on Law Popularization and Education 2012.

Disseminate information on HIV/AIDS prevention and control to every supervised person at least twice a year.

(Clause 2, Article 4 of Decree 63/2021/ND-CP)

4. Principles in HIV/AIDS prevention and control in Vietnam

According to Article 3 of the Law on HIV/AIDS prevention and control 2006 (amended in 2020), the principles in HIV/AIDS prevention and control include:

- Combination of social, technical and medical measures in HIV/AIDS prevention and control on the principle of regarding prevention as the major measure and information, education and communication for behavioral change as the key measure.

- Implementation of multi-sectoral collaboration and social mobilization in HIV/AIDS prevention and control; integration of HIV/AIDS prevention and control activities into socio-economic development programs.

- Close combination of HIV/AIDS prevention and control with the prevention and control of drug abuse and prostitution, attaching importance to harm reduction intervention measures in the prevention of HIV transmission.

- Elimination of stigma and discrimination against HIV-infected people and their family members; facilitation of HIV-infected people and their family members to participate in social activities, especially in HIV/AIDS prevention and control.

5. Responsibilities in HIV/AIDS prevention and control in Vietnam

- Agencies, organizations and people's armed force units shall, within the scope of their assigned functions and powers, formulate, and organize the implementation of, programs of action for HIV/AIDS prevention and control.

- The Vietnam Fatherland Front and its member organizations shall propagandize and mobilize the people to participate in HIV/AIDS prevention and control; participate and supervise the implementation of HIV/AIDS prevention and control measures; and organize and carry out campaigns to provide material and mental supports for HIV-infected people.

- Vietnamese and foreign agencies, organizations and individuals in Vietnam shall implement the law on HIV/AIDS prevention and control.

- Families shall apply measures to prevent and control HIV/AIDS.

(Article 5 of the Law on HIV/AIDS prevention and control 2006 (amended in 2020))

Thanh Rin

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