Ministry officials told a seminar held in HCM City on December 14 that around VND1.5 trillion (US$82 million) has been earmarked for setting up an HIV/AIDS prevention network at provincial level.

Nguyen Thanh Long, head of the Department of HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control, said most HIV/AIDS prevention and control centres did not have premises of their own and provided check-up, counseling and even treatment at borrowed ones. They also lacked equipment and supplies, he added.

Nguyen Huy Nga, head of the Preventive Medicine and Environment Department said epidemic prevention programme had stalled due to a shortage of equipment and other supplies and poor awareness of infectious diseases among people such as dengue fever, cholera, bird flu, swine flu and malaria.

Nguyen Tuan Hung, deputy head of the Personnel Department, said the country’s 10 preventive health institutes only had 1,231 doctors against a requisite of 1,493. To attract more doctors, the Government should offer incentives and extra allowances to those working at preventive health centres, he said.