On 20 April, a large number of Buddhist monks, venerables, clergymen and nuns representing the Vietnam Association of Buddhism and provincial and municipal Buddhist associations attended a conference on the implementation of the programme, “Buddhist leaders’ initiatives in combating HIV/AIDS, consultation and helping people infected with and affected by HIV/AIDS in the community,” in Ho Chi Minh City.

The participants were told about the implementation of “buddhist leaders’ initiatives” such as disseminating information about HIV/AIDS to buddhists and local people, providing consultation, care and support for HIV/AIDS-infected people.

In the three years of implementation of “buddhist leaders’ initiatives,” some key pagodas in Hanoi, Hue and Ho Chi Minh City have disseminated knowledge about HIV/AIDS prevention, provided direct consultation or consultation on the phone for tens of millions of people and organised over 30 training courses for buddhists, nuns and local people. The programme has set up a network of communication between social organizations and voluntary groups in the community involved in AIDS control.

Buddhists and nuns at these pagodas have visited and given over 2,000 gifts to HIV/AIDS-infected people and their families, given scholarships to more than 1,000 children made orphans by the deadly disease. They have also free of charge examined, treated and disbursed medicines to 8,000 HIV/AIDS-infected people and organised funeral ceremonies for hundreds of people who had died of AIDS.

The programme has helped HIV/AIDS-infected people and their families reduce stigmatisation and discrimination and increase awareness of AIDS prevention in the community.

In the coming time, the Fatherland Front Central Committee will strengthen its collaboration with the Vietnam Association of Buddhism to expand the programme to provinces and cities across the country.

The meeting was organised by the National Religion Committee, and the Fatherland Front Central Committee office in the southern region. The meeting ends on 21 April.