Support centres to help parents of children infected with HIV

He is 43 and lives with AIDS. "I have tormented you throughout life," he tells her. "But I need your care."

Drug abuse and HIV/AIDS robbed Tran Van Gi. of first his son and then his son-in law within 20 months.

Now the shattered man and his wife have to care for three grandchildren - the youngest of whom is just three.

The Viet Nam Women’s Union has helped create several centres similar to the o­ne in the outskirts of the capital to support women and prevent HIV/AIDS as part of an initiative to establish ‘sympathetic’ clubs for the elderly.

Here, the elderly can not o­nly share their difficulties; borrow money for business and receive medical treatment, they can also obtain advice about people living with HIV/AIDS.