VIENTIANE, Nov. 23 (Xinhua) -- The number of new HIV-contracted cases annually is trending upwards in Laos because risk groups are having unsafe sex and receiving treatment too late, National Committee to Combat HIV/AIDS (NCCA) reported Wednesday.
Currently, there are some 11,500 people living with HIV in Laos with another 1,000 new cases each year, the NCCA said at its meeting in Lao capital Vientiane on Wednesday. According to the committee, risk groups include sex workers, drug users who share syringes, MSM (men who have sex with men) as well as local and foreign migrants.
HIV/AIDS was spreading in the country because the number of migrant workers, both local and foreign, is increasing and some groups are practicing unsafe sex, Lao Minister of Health and NCCA President Bounkong Syhavong was quoted by local Vientiane Times as saying.
He said the rate of HIV/AIDS contraction was still high because these target groups cannot access health services, while prevention campaigns were still lacking in remote areas.
The cooperation of all parties is needed to determine those most vulnerable to the disease and how to provide them with the knowledge to protect themselves. In the near future, the NCCA intends to expand its research on risk groups to include communities in remote areas of the country.
The committee plans to eliminate HIV/AIDS within Laos by 2030 and is continuing its efforts to provide treatment for people living with HIV to stop the disease spreading to others by raising awareness and expanding prevention activities to rural areas.
Currently, there are 10 units that treat HIV/AIDS free of charge across Laos, including two units in capital Vientiane at Setthathirath and Mittaphab Hospitals, in addition to clinics in the provinces of Khammuane, Savannakhet, Champasak, Luang Prabang, Luang Namtha, Bokeo and Huaphan.
