CPV: A workshop was held to discuss issues of the sharing of needles and syringes by injection drug users (IDUs) and reducing the risk of HIV/AIDS infection to them by the Institute for Social Development Studies on May 25 in Hanoi.

The meeting was attended by representatives of Vietnam-based non-governmental and non-profit organisations and relevant agencies.

The workshop released studies about drug use in Vietnam conducted by the Population Services International organisation (PSI) with the support of the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID). The study shows that unsafe injection drug use and the sharing of needles and syringes are the fastest ways to spread HIV/AIDS transmission. In Vietnam, 60 percent of new HIV/AIDS infected cases are the result of unsafe injection drug use and around 75 percent of IDUs are HIV positive.

In addition, the study recommends the promotion of condoms use by advertising condoms at shops where IDUs usually go. The study also encourages IDUs to access Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) services. These VCT centres have an important role to play in disseminating messages and safe behaviours of injection drug use and condom use.

B.L