Leaders of the fight against AIDS in Vietnam need to optimize the use of resources and programs focused on HIV interventions for high-risk groups to achieve the Millennium Development Goal No. 6 and the Century goal of universal access.

A high level delegation of the UN's special envoy by Secretary-General on HIV / AIDS in Asia - Pacific Nafis Sadik and her Special Adviser to the Executive Director of UNAIDS in Asia - Pacific Mr JVR Prasada Rao had visited last week and working in Vietnam to discuss the response to AIDS with stakeholders, including Deputy Prime Minister Truong Vinh Trong, president of the National Committee for AIDS, and prevention And combat drug use and prostitution.

"I am extremely impressed by the commitment and strong leadership role of the Deputy Prime Minister Truong Vinh Trong, as well as leaders of the ministries involved in the response to HIV," Ms. Sadik said.

She said: "The commitment and leadership role that is essential in creating policy changes aimed at expanding access to HIV services,"

The construction and services provide a standard package of HIV prevention, treatment, care and support for high-risk groups is one of the priority actions that Vietnam delegation recommended to be taken.

"Vietnam should estimate the financial resources needed to implement a comprehensive response to HIV from now to 2015 and plans to meet at least one third of total expenditure by the state budget to ensure the sustainability of the national response to HIV, "Mr Prasada said, noting a recommendation of the Group shrugged.

High level UN delegation met and discussed the national response to HIV with a wide range of stakeholders including members of the National Committee, donors, and civil society organizations in and foreign officials and provincial leaders, people living with HIV, who are at risk of infection and the UN's coordinating group for HIV in Vietnam.

Representatives of civil society organizations also stressed the need for adequate and sustainable resources to cope with HIV. "In two districts of Hai Phong is still no intervention programs for people living with HIV and that HIV is still subject to stigma and discrimination as well as the severe lack of services for HIV, "Ms. Doan Thi Khuyen, a self-help group members said during a meeting with the delegation.

"I wish the delegation told the leaders about HIV for more investment to the city district has an HIV services," she recommended recommendations.

End the trip, the delegation will prepare a report on Vietnam in which state the recommendations to help Vietnam achieve the goal of universal access targets and millennium development related to AIDS; the barriers and challenges as well as actions needed to overcome, and financial resources and technical support needed for Vietnam to speed up towards universal access.

Visit and work in the high-level delegation to Vietnam this time is part of a review of the entire Asia - Pacific took place in the two years 2009 - 2010 to improve the effectiveness of the response national response to AIDS in the region. Group's report will be shared with stakeholders in the work of AIDS in Vietnam as well as UN partners to complement and provide additional information to the process of building national AIDS strategy new phase in which Vietnam is implementing.

Pham Ngoc Cuong