Press Conference and award granting for the Photo Contest on the topic “The Role of the Elderly Women on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Care for HIV Infected People, Orphans and Vulnerable Children”.

Present at the press conference, were Mrs. Nguyen Thi Kim Thuy – Vice President of the VWU, Mr.Tran Ngoc Quyen –Regional Manager of HAI Project.

According to the report of UNAIDS and the World Health Organization, by the end of 2004, there have been about 42 millions of HIV infected people in the world alive and more than 30 millions died of AIDS.

Each day passes by; the world has 14,000 new HIV – infected people, of which 95% is in developing countries. In Vietnam, at the end of June 2005, there were 96,704 HIV-infected people, of which 75,772 cases changed to AIDS and 9,049 people died. For the year 2004, over 14,000 HIV-infected cases were unveiled in the whole country. HIV/AIDS epidemic causes a serious toll o­n individuals and families, community and socio-economic development.

With their life experiences and ability to take in new directions, policies and regulations of the Party and State through the mass media and with their reputation, the elderly people play an important role in educating children, particularly the adolescence away from social evils.

At the press conference, Mrs. Nguyen Thi Kim Thuy, Vice president of the VWU read the “appeal of the VWU to acknowledge the role of the elderly women in taking care of the HIV-infected people, orphans and vulnerable children in family and society. To do so, the VWU requests the Government, relevant agencies and organizations to do research o­n the impact of HIV/AIDS o­n the elderly women; to develop economic and social welfare assistance programs for HIV-AIDS infected elderly women; to improve health care services for AIDS patients in the community; to instruct and train women (including girl children and elderly women) to protect themselves and other people; to educate the youth in the community about the role of the elderly in caring assistance activities; to promote models for these activities in the community; to enhance the cooperation between the State agencies and organization for HIV infected children, youth and the elderly.

At the end of the conference, the organizing committee granted the first prize to Ms. Pham Thi Hue (Haiphong City) – author of the photo: “Mother’s Love” and Mr. Le Hoai Nam (Hanoi) – author of the photo “Mother’s Care” and 4 second prizes, 4 third prizes. The organizing committee also intends to select about 2-3 most valuable photos for the regional exhibition o­n HIV held in Bangkok (Thailand) by the end of this year”.