Directive No. 02/2003/CT-TTg on Strengthening Work to Prevent and Control HIV/AIDS

DIRECTIVE

On Strengthening Work to Prevent and Control HIV/AIDS

In more than ten years, work to prevent and control HIV/AIDS has been implemented nationwide and has achieved some positive results: the system for preventing and controlling HIV/AIDS has been established and quickly put into operation; medical intervention measures have been implemented comprehensively; public awareness of HIV/AIDS and prevention and control efforts has improved significantly... Despite this, the HIV/AIDS epidemic continues to increase and spread across all provinces and cities, affecting over 80% of districts and more than 50% of communes nationwide. According to the Ministry of Health's report, currently there are over 59,000 people infected with HIV, including over 8,700 who have progressed to AIDS and more than 4,800 who have died from AIDS.

The rapid increase in the number of HIV/AIDS cases is mainly due to the rise in social evils, particularly prostitution and drug abuse; coordination among ministries, sectors, and localities in preventing and controlling HIV/AIDS is still not tight enough; community recognition of people infected with HIV/AIDS is still insufficient; management, care, and treatment of people infected with HIV/AIDS are not yet well organized; preventive measures are weak, and activities to prevent and control HIV/AIDS at the grassroots level are not truly effective.

To address these shortcomings and enhance the effectiveness of HIV/AIDS prevention and control activities, the Prime Minister issues the following directive:

1. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism shall take the lead and coordinate with relevant ministries, sectors, provincial People's Committees, political and social organizations, and mass organizations to strengthen information, education, and communication activities using diverse, rich, and appropriate forms, aiming to raise the responsibility of Party committees and local authorities in HIV/AIDS prevention and control work; guide the community's understanding towards empathy, sharing, and non-discrimination against people infected with HIV/AIDS; avoid fear among the people; families should love and care for relatives infected with HIV/AIDS; educate healthy lifestyles, practice and maintain safe sexual behaviors and safe injection practices among the people, especially among young people.

2. The Ministry of Public Security shall take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, and the Population, Family and Children Committee to study and develop management mechanisms for children, prostitutes, and drug addicts infected with HIV/AIDS who are in educational and correctional facilities, prisons, temporary detention centers, and holding houses; develop plans and implement effective preventive intervention measures to reduce the transmission of HIV/AIDS from high-risk groups to the community.

3. The Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs shall take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Finance, and the Population, Family and Children Committee to study and develop management and care mechanisms for children, prostitutes, and drug addicts infected with HIV/AIDS in the community; direct labor, invalids, and social affairs agencies at the local level to cooperate with health agencies at the same level to manage, advise, and care for people infected with HIV/AIDS in the community and in newly established health facilities under the Administrative Violations Handling Ordinance, and social welfare centers.

4. The Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Finance shall be responsible for reviewing budgets and providing sufficient and timely funding for HIV/AIDS prevention and control activities according to the annual state budget approved by the Government; prioritize investment in HIV/AIDS prevention and control, especially in the field of health and community intervention measures. Mobilize and effectively utilize domestic and international financial support for HIV/AIDS prevention and control; coordinate with relevant ministries, sectors, and provincial People's Committees to inspect the management and use of investment funds for HIV/AIDS prevention and control.

5. The Ministry of Education and Training shall take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Health and other relevant ministries and sectors to develop appropriate programs on HIV/AIDS prevention and control and organize teaching in all types of schools.

6. The Ministry of Health shall be responsible for:

a) Consolidating and improving the organization for HIV/AIDS prevention and control from central to local levels, ensuring unified leadership to achieve high efficiency in directing and implementing HIV/AIDS prevention and control activities.

b) Strengthening intervention activities to minimize harm, limit HIV/AIDS transmission in the community. Intensify epidemiological surveillance of HIV/AIDS, blood safety, treatment, and mother-to-child HIV/AIDS transmission prevention; prevent and control sexually transmitted diseases; strengthen HIV/AIDS transmission prevention through healthcare services.

c) Lead the development and implementation of plans for managing and caring for people infected with HIV/AIDS. Organize research and develop projects for producing HIV/AIDS treatment drugs to be submitted to the Government for approval.

d) Lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Justice and related ministries and sectors to summarize and evaluate the results of implementation and propose supplements and amendments to the HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Ordinance. Implement Vietnam's national and international commitments in HIV/AIDS prevention and control work.

7. Ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, heads of agencies under the Government, Chairmen of provincial People's Committees directly under the Central Government shall coordinate with departments, sectors, political and social organizations, and social organizations to strictly direct and implement this Directive, regularly report implementation results to the Ministry of Health for consolidation and reporting to the Prime Minister.