The strategy also sets the target of reducing mother-to-children HIV infection rate to less than 5% by 2015 and under 2% by 2020.

By the end of 2011, Vietnam had reported around 198,000 alive HIV carriers, including nearly 49,000 AIDS patients, and total AIDS fatalities of over 52,000.

According to experts, HIV infections are on the decline, but the country has yet to contain the disease. Infection rates are high among drug addicts, and women prostitutes.

HIV/AIDS prevention and fight is a focal, urgent and long-lasting task, which needs inter-sectoral coordination and participation of the whole society.

By Ngoc Van