Vietnam has reduced HIV infection in the community to below 0.3 percent, said Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc in central Da Nang city on November 26.

Phuc, who is also Chairman of the National Committee for HIV/AIDS, Drugs and Prostitution Control, said at a meeting with international organisations that are coordinating the National Programme on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control, that apart from technical activities, Vietnam’s HIV/AIDS prevention services have expanded immensely, and many legal policies have been issued.

With new models to help drug addicts and their families, and less discrimination against homosexuals, the right environment exists to successfully implement the National Programme on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control, Phuc said.

He added that the country needs VND26.8 trillion (US$1.28 billion) to fight HIV/AIDS in the 2013–2020 period. He asked international donors to finalise their agendas on funding to Vietnam in the time to come.

Vietnam pledges to increase investment through the National Target Programme on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control, and mobilise social resources like public-private partnerships and healthcare insurance to maintain achieved outcomes, he added.

Deborah Chatsis, Canadian Ambassador to Vietnam and President of the HIV/AIDS Prevention Coordination Group, said Vietnam has made a significant stride against HIV.

She said the international community promises to support Vietnam in improving HIV prevention and in the treating and caring of patients living with HIV.

As Vietnam is forecast to become a middle-income country in the region, development partners will gradually withdraw direct financial assistance, but will maintain technical assistance and policy advice, as well as increase ASEAN coordination to fight against the scourge.