LookAtVietnam – A national conference was held in the central city of Hue city on Nov. 23 to increase the commitment of religious followers to fighting HIV/AIDS.

Delegates highlighted good models for taking care of HIV/AIDS patients, particularly those models provided by Buddhism pagodas and Catholic churches. They agreed that dignitaries and religious followers have made great contributions to preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS in Vietnam, mainly by promoting HIV/AIDS education, providing HIV/AIDS treatment and fighting discrimination.

According to the United Nations Joint Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), more than 35 million people in the world are living with HIV/AIDS. Each year, an additional of 2.5 people are infected by HIV, while about 2 million die of the fatal disease. In Vietnam, by October 2009, 155,700 people had been HIV-positive with HIV, with 34,563 developing full-blown AIDS and 44,043 dead.

VietNamNet/VOV