Press conference on launching World AIDS Day 2004
Present at the press were Mme. Ha Thi Khiet, Member of the Central Party Committee, President of Vietnam Women's Union, Mme. Tran Thi Trung Chien, Minister of Health, Mr. Anthony Bloomberg, Resident Representative of UNICEF Vietnam, Mme. Nancy Fee-National Coordinator of UNAIDS Vietnam, Mr. Jordan Ryan, Resident Representative of UNDP and more than 50 reporters/journalists from 35 central and Hanoi mass media agencies.
The theme of this year's World AIDS Day is "Women, Girls and HIV/AIDS". Women and girls are the most vulnerable groups to HIV/AIDS transmission and impact. Reality has shown that, women are likely 2-4 times susceptible to be HIV-infected as men. Their vulnerability is primarily due to inadequate knowledge about AIDS, insufficient access to HIV preventive services, inability to negotiate safe sex and a lack of female-controlled HIV prevention methods. At the same time, all over the world, women do not enjoy the same rights and access to property, employment and education as men. Women and girls are also more likely to face violence, victims of trafficking in persons, which can accelerate the spread of HIV. Therefore, this year's World AIDS Campaign, with the slogan "Have you heard me today?" seeks to raise awareness about, and help address many issues affecting women and girls around epidemic HIV/AIDS of the century.
In Vietnam, HIV/AIDS is becoming a complex and stinging problem in the society. Up to 16 Act 2004, there have been 86,018 reported HIV cases, of which 13,612 reported AIDS cases and 7,834 deaths due to AIDS. The Ministry of Health estimated the real figures were around 245,000 HIV cases. An average there is 1 household having an HIV infected person out of 75 households. It is alarming that HIV prevalence among pregnant women over nearly the past 10 years has been also increasing by 20 times: from 0.02%(1994) to 0.39% (2002). Therefore, Vietnam has identified 4 main advocacy messages for the World AIDS Day in Vietnam:
- Many women and girls are vulnerable to HIV because of the high-risk behavior of others
- Women hold the linkage between families and communities and avail themselves a source of great strength in combating HIV/AIDS
- Women leaders should speak out about HIV/AIDS
- Violence against women can accelerate the spread of HIV. No tolerance to violence.
At the press conference, Mme. Ha Thi Khiet stressed that "Wishing that the messages of this year's World AIDS Day will reach every woman and people in the society so that wherever they are, be in mountainous or urban areas, understand and have practical actions to protect women and girls. We can prevent HIV/AIDS epidemic, and at the same time reduce the harmful affects of HIV/AIDS on women and girls who make up half of the world population- if we together take proactive actions right now".
