Some provinces have scaled up AIDS prevention activities and care for HIV-infected children in the community and achieved encouraging results such as Quang Ninh, Hai Phong and Da Nang. As a result of their successes, some provinces have proposed increasing their subsidies to amounts equal to or higher than those allotted for children cared for in centres in those three provinces.

A 400 million VND social centre in Thuong Ly of Hai Phong city’s Hong Bang district is now operational. The centre is now rearing three orphaned children who are cared for and managed by two workers. Care and treatment work is important in the development of their thoughts and minds; however, expenditures to bring up children and pay workers still mostly come from the kindness of agencies, communities and people.

Dong Thi Bich Thuy, chairwoman of the People’s Committee in Thuong Ly ward, said that the ward had met various difficulties, especially expenditures. As a result, authorities in the ward have mobilised kind-hearted people to raise funds for the social centre because expenditures from the state are not enough to maintain and run activities at the centre.

Hai Phong has 21 children infected with HIV in the community who are granted subsidies under the ND 07 of 65,000 VND/month/child. If subsidy for children was raised in the community, it will reduce central fostering and contribute to ensuring life for children.?

Le Thi Dai, deputy director of the Hai Phong Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, said that a number of children who are severely handicapped, infected with HIV, orphaned or homeless have not been granted subsidies due to meeting with difficulties in procedures.

Dang Khieu, director of the Thai Binh provincial department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, said: “For HIV/AIDS-infected children in the community, we ask mass organisations, political-social organisations to sponsor them and create favourable conditions for them to integrate into the community. We also make efforts to disseminate information to help people and friends of HIV-infected children raise awareness of the disease, reduce discrimination to ensure a comfortable life for them."

To implement Decision No. 65 on caring for hard-hit children in the community issued by the government, more specific policies need to be issued and more funds need to be allocated to localities. In addition, the health care sector must also co-operate with local authorities to timely detect and treat HIV/AIDS-infected children.

BTA