(VOV) -Approximately 12,500 children in the northern mountain province of Son La are currently at high risk of being infected by HIV/AIDS, according to the provincial Department for Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs. At present, 156 children in Son La are living with the deadly virus and receiving free treatment, the Department reported, noting that many HIV child patients are transmitted from either their father or mother who had died of the fatal disease or from their relatives who are HIV carriers or drug addicts living in the same house. Most HIV/AIDS patients live in remote areas, decreasing their chance to access healthcare services. The Son La HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Centre revealed that by December 1, 2013, as many as 8,782 people tested positive for HIV, including nearly 3,000 full-blown AIDS. Son La ranks second among localities having the highest number of HIV carriers, trailing after Ho Chi Minh City. The province has more 15,000 drug users who are listed among high-risk group of HIV infection. Each year, Son La has an additional 400 HIV patients, and this poses a big challenge for the province to provide an adequate supply of ARV treatment for them.
Posted on: Tue, 30 Sep 2014 15:02:47 +0000
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