Directive No. 06/2007/CT-BXD on Strengthening Leadership in the Work of Preventing and Controlling HIV/AIDS, Prostitution, and Drug Abuse in the Construction Industry

DIRECTIVE

ON STRENGTHENING LEADERSHIP IN THE WORK OF PREVENTING AND CONTROLLING HIV/AIDS AND DRUG ABUSE AND PROSTITUTION AMONG OFFICIALS, EMPLOYEES, AND LABORERS IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

Along with the whole country, in recent years, officials, employees, and laborers in the Construction Industry have shown positive changes in preventing and controlling HIV/AIDS and drug abuse and prostitution; Party organizations, administrative bodies, and mass organizations have become more aware and concerned, creating a basis for intensifying efforts to gradually limit, prevent, and eventually curb drug abuse and prostitution and reduce the rate of HIV/AIDS infection. However, due to the special nature of construction labor being dispersed, mobile, far from home, and with a high proportion of workers in remote areas, management and guidance at some units have not been regular and resolute, and in some cases have been lax, making it easy for drug abuse and prostitution to occur; meanwhile, information education and communication work to enable workers to know how to prevent HIV/AIDS and drug abuse and prostitution has not been extensive, continuous, and effective. Continuing to implement Directive No. 54-CT/TW dated November 30, 2005 of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam on "Strengthening Leadership in the Work of Preventing and Controlling HIV/AIDS in New Circumstances," based on Decision No. 50/2007/QĐ-TTg dated April 12, 2007 of the Prime Minister on the establishment of the National Steering Committee for HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control and Drug Abuse and Prostitution Prevention, and based on Circular No. 641/TTg-VX dated May 22, 2007 of the Prime Minister on the establishment of the National Steering Committee for HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control and Drug Abuse and Prostitution Prevention, the Ministry of Construction requests all agencies and units under the industry to implement the following tasks:

1.To ensure that all levels of Party organizations, administrative bodies, mass organizations, officials, employees, and laborers understand, know, and continue to implement well Directive No. 54-CT/TW dated November 30, 2005 of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam on "Strengthening Leadership in the Work of Preventing and Controlling HIV/AIDS in New Circumstances" and Decision No. 50/2007/QĐ-TTg dated April 12, 2007 of the Prime Minister on the establishment of the National Steering Committee for HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control and Drug Abuse and Prostitution Prevention.

2. Objectives:

Limit the influence and prevent drug abuse and prostitution, and prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS among officials, employees, and laborers in the Construction Industry.

Slow down the progression of HIV to AIDS in people infected with HIV.

Reduce the impact of HIV/AIDS on families and the economic efficiency of units.

Specific Goals:

100% of units nationwide under the Ministry of Construction will implement HIV/AIDS prevention work.

Increase the knowledge of officials, employees, and laborers in agencies and units, and students in schools about HIV/AIDS prevention so that 100% of officials, employees, laborers, and students understand correctly and know how to prevent HIV/AIDS.

Improve the system of management, monitoring, and supervision of the HIV/AIDS prevention program: 100% of HIV/AIDS tests comply with regulations, and voluntary counseling is provided.

Prevent transmission through health services: ensure that 100% of blood and blood products are screened for HIV before transfusion in all hospitals, health stations, and rehabilitation centers under the Ministry. Implement sterile and disinfection procedures to prevent HIV transmission in healthcare facilities throughout the Construction Industry.

Implement intervention measures for all groups at risk of HIV/AIDS infection.

3. Implementation Measures:

Social Measures:

- Strengthen the leadership of Party organizations, administrative bodies, and trade unions, and social mass organizations in HIV/AIDS prevention work.

- The HIV/AIDS Prevention Department of the Construction Industry proactively integrate HIV/AIDS prevention work into annual plans of the industry and be responsible for organizing implementation.

- Integrate HIV/AIDS prevention activities into mass movements, sports, cultural, and artistic activities, training sessions, and lectures.

- Establish HIV/AIDS counseling centers through integration with health activities at enterprises. Organize regular health check-ups (at least once a year), and treat sexually transmitted diseases for workers, especially female workers.

- Information, education, and communication to change behavior:

+ Implement information, education, and communication activities aimed at changing behavior. Require the Construction Newspaper, Construction Magazine, Architecture Magazine, journals of institutes and schools, and enterprises to publish articles and photos highlighting good deeds in HIV/AIDS prevention.

+ Develop personal skills in HIV/AIDS prevention and care.

+ Increase the quantity and quality of educational materials and messages.

+ Implement harm reduction programs: clean needle exchange programs, 100% condom distribution programs in areas with many drug users.

+ Focus interventions on groups at high risk of HIV infection, particularly construction workers who frequently move locations and are away from home, with limited education.

Professional and Technical Measures

- Establish a certified laboratory capable of confirming HIV positivity at the Construction Hospital.

- Monitor serological HIV/AIDS:

+ Expand and improve the quality of detection tests (only conducted after full counseling).

+ Maintain and enhance the quality of key supervisory activities, expand supervision to remote areas (with particular emphasis on supervising construction workers at hydroelectric projects: Son La, Se San-Gia Lai, A Vuong-Quang Nam, Ban Ve-Nghệ An, Na Hang-Tuyen Quang...). In particular, for the construction of the Son La Hydroelectric Project, the Ministry of Construction assigns the Construction Hospital to collaborate with the National AIDS Control Center to continue implementing the Project: "Strengthening HIV/AIDS Prevention Work at the Son La Hydroelectric Project" until 2010, aiming to increase awareness and methods of preventing HIV/AIDS among officials, employees, and workers at the construction site, while creating a model for expanding implementation in other units within the Construction sector in the future.

+ Integrate behavioral monitoring, serological testing, and sexually transmitted infections.

+ Manage and care for HIV/AIDS patients in accordance with the guidelines of the Ministry of Health.

+ Integrate counseling services into national health programs, family planning, primary healthcare, and occupational disease prevention programs of the Construction sector.

The Cadre and Civil Servant Department of the Construction Hospital is responsible for guiding, monitoring, urging, and inspecting the implementation of this Directive./.