Duong Quoc Trong, Head of the AIDS Prevention Department, said that an estimated US$9.4 million from the State budget will be spent on the national initiative to be jointly funded by both the State and international donors. The new budget allocation represents a major increase over the US$5.1 million that was used on HIV/AIDS control related activities in the previous year.

The programme will see 10,000-12,000 AIDS patients treated with anti-retroviral (ARV) drugs. The Health Ministry will also implement a risk reduction programme for drug addicts and a programme of providing condoms for people in 30 provinces and cities.

In addition, the health sector will improve 75 HIV test laboratories in 55 cities and provinces, and provide counselling and voluntary HIV/AIDS tests for people in 40 provinces and 100 districts throughout the country.