The deal was inked at a conference on October 6 during which the localities shared lessons in combating HIV/AIDS in border areas with the support of the Greater Mekong Subregion Capacity Building for HIV/AIDS Prevention project funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

Accordingly, the localities will share information in conducting cross-border activities in HIV/AIDS prevention and combat, while working together in increasing vulnerable groups’ and the community’s access to preventive medical services and HIV/AIDS treatment.

They will also strengthen coordination in the work for more efficient and sustainable outcomes.

At the conference, the three localities updated each other of their HIV/AIDS situation, while proposing a number of measures to enhance the efficiency of their coordination in preventing and controlling the pandemic in border areas.

Pham Duc Manh, deputy head of the Department for HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control under the Ministry of Health, spoke highly of the cooperation of the three localities in the work, expressing his hope that they will continue working closely in the future.

The Greater Mekong Subregion Capacity Building for HIV/AIDS Prevention project has been launched in 15 border localities of Vietnam, including Lai Chau, Ha Giang, Lao Cai, Dien Bien, Son La, Ha Tinh, Thanh Hoa, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Quang Nam, Gia Lai, Kon Tum, Dak Nong, Binh Phuoc, and Long An and the University of Public Health in the 2013-2017 period.

One of the objectives of the project is to improve the preventive measures against HIV among high-risk groups in border localities.

Under the project, the central province of Thanh Hoa, northern mountainous province of Son La and Houaphan have held a number of activities to enhance the capacity of health care staff in the work, while giving technical supervision and equipment for beneficiaries and building pilot models in HIV prevention and combat, thus raising public awareness and minimising the HIV transmission among the community.

However, due to large land area, languages, and a lack of healthcare staff, the number of drug addicts is still rising, while there are many HIV-infected people are living the community.