Resolution No. 20-CP on Strengthening Work to Prevent and Control HIV/AIDS

RESOLUTION

OF THE GOVERNMENT DECISION NO. 20-CP OF MAY 5, 1993 ON STRENGTHENING THE WORK TO PREVENT AND CONTROL HIV/AIDS 

HIV/AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome), a century-wide pandemic, has spread across continents, significantly impacting economies and societies, as well as the lives and health of people in each country.

In Vietnam, the first case of HIV was detected in December 1990, and up to April 21, 1993, the number of detected HIV/AIDS cases has increased considerably (with 304 individuals infected with HIV/AIDS identified, including 229 Vietnamese and 75 foreigners, and 7 AIDS patients). The main group affected by HIV/AIDS is drug addicts and sex workers, in 13 provinces and cities, with the highest number in Ho Chi Minh City.

Therefore, HIV/AIDS is truly becoming a serious social issue in our country. This reality requires the mobilization of all social forces to participate in prevention and control efforts with comprehensive and effective measures.

The Government requests state agencies and social organizations at central and local levels to strictly implement the following measures:

1. All levels of government and social organizations must recognize the harmful nature of AIDS that has entered and is trending towards development in our country, threatening public health, affecting economic and social development; making everyone understand that preventing AIDS is an urgent task for every Vietnamese citizen, to have full awareness in self-protection and protection of society, participating in the prevention and control of AIDS.

Combating AIDS must be closely linked to combating drug addiction and prostitution, as these two evils provide a favorable environment for the rapid spread of HIV/AIDS in the community. Agencies responsible for these tasks at all levels need to have unified plans to guide, monitor the situation, and report promptly to the Government.

All levels of government and mass organizations from central to local levels should regard the prevention and control of AIDS as a key focus of work; according to their functions and responsibilities, develop action programs to prevent and control AIDS, invest resources (human resources, means, budget) into this disease prevention effort.

Guidance needs to be proactive and continuous in all areas, but it should focus on depth, educating and mobilizing the people to address issues practically, avoiding noise and formality.

2. Strengthen regular education, information dissemination, and communication about the risk of HIV/AIDS throughout society, focusing on young men and women and high-risk groups (drug users, prostitutes...) in areas with HIV/AIDS infections, and important exchange points. Information dissemination, education, and communication activities need to be diverse: through the mass media system nationwide, by profession (health, tourism...), through grassroots mass organizations. Increase AIDS prevention education in schools. Mass organizations (Communist Youth Union, Women's Association, Red Cross...) play a very important role in educating and mobilizing the masses, creating changes in the younger generation and the people.

Urge the implementation of Government Decree No. 16-CP dated December 18, 1992; promulgate and disseminate joint Circulars to put the contents of the Decree into practice, adjusting them appropriately to current realities.

3. The Ministry of Health shall develop plans to implement preventive measures to respond to the epidemic situation, preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS through both public and private healthcare facilities.

Monitor accurately, focusing on key targets, particularly those at risk of transmission through blood and injection. Strengthen monitoring of sex workers to prevent transmission through sexual contact. Monitor healthcare facilities directly dealing with HIV/AIDS patients.

Strictly ensure aseptic procedures in hospitals and primary healthcare services. Focus on blood banks, HIV/AIDS care and treatment centers, and departments of surgery, dentistry, and oral medicine.

Heads of medical units are responsible for ensuring aseptic procedures in their healthcare services. Strengthen sterilization inspection systems in healthcare facilities, providing sufficient sterile equipment for disease prevention and treatment facilities. Organize education, counseling, and awareness campaigns on AIDS within the healthcare sector.

Ensure safety in blood collection and transfusion at all national blood banks. Provide equipment, train staff, and educate donors on disease prevention.

Organize the detection, diagnosis, and treatment of AIDS patients in infectious disease departments of hospitals. When the number of patients increases, expand care and treatment at specialized tuberculosis, dermatology, and drug rehabilitation centers.

4. The Government views the prevention and control of AIDS as being equivalent to disaster and epidemic prevention, thus additional budgets will be allocated for AIDS prevention and control activities.

The Ministry of Health and the National Committee for AIDS Prevention and Control will aggregate budget supplement proposals from ministries and localities, coordinate with the Ministry of Finance to submit to the Prime Minister for approval. Immediate attention should be given to addressing urgent budgetary needs.

5. Appoint a permanent working group of the National Committee for AIDS Prevention and Control comprising leaders from the Ministries of Health, Interior, Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, and the Communist Youth Union Ho Chi Minh to supervise ongoing activities and propose necessary measures to prevent and control AIDS, integrating the three programs of AIDS, drug abuse, and prostitution prevention.

Quarterly, the permanent working group of the National Committee for AIDS Prevention and Control will organize meetings to review and evaluate the implementation of plans by member agencies under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister or Deputy Prime Minister.

Specific responsibilities are assigned as follows:

- The National Committee for AIDS Prevention and Control reports on the situation, proposes policies and measures for prevention and control, serving as the coordinating body for AIDS prevention and control activities nationwide.

- The Ministry of Health directs supervision, organizes conditions for care and disease prevention, and treatment of HIV/AIDS patients.

- The Ministry of Culture - Information, Vietnam Television, Voice of Vietnam, and other mass media organizations have the responsibility to disseminate educational information on AIDS prevention throughout the country. The National Committee for AIDS Prevention provides information and knowledge, as well as preventive measures.

- The Ministry of Labor - Invalids and Social Affairs organizes centralized facilities for treating and training individuals addicted to drugs, prostitution, and creates conditions for the Ministry of Health to carry out its tasks of monitoring and caring for people infected with HIV/AIDS at these centralized facilities.

- The Ministry of Interior has the responsibility to direct inspections and controls over social delinquents.

- The Ministry of Justice leads the research, proposal, and resolution of issues related to laws, implementation of Decree No. 16-CP dated December 18, 1992, and the Inter-Ministerial Circular on AIDS prevention.

The Chairman of the National Committee for AIDS Prevention and the Ministers of Ministries, agencies equivalent to ministries, agencies under the Government, and Chairmen of People's Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities are responsible for closely coordinating to implement this Resolution.