Up to 60 percent of drug addicts in Vietnam are infected with HIV/AIDS, according to the country's Preventive Medicine Department on Wednesday.

The percentage even rises to 70-80 percent in some localities such as Lang Son, Quang Ninh and Hai Phong in the northern region. Using the same infected injecting equipment like syringes among drug users is the main reason, the department said.

Vietnam is estimated to currently have some 241,000 HIV carriers, most of them are men. Many local men contract the disease after having sex with infected prostitutes. The country now has file records on 13,000 prostitutes.

Vietnam has targeted to reduce the HIV/AIDS infection rate among its 82-million population to below 0.3 percent by 2010, and keep it unchanged after 2020.

To this end, the country has intensified publicity about HIV/ AIDS with contents expanding into areas of virtues, lifestyle and behavior, including encouraging youths to use "ABC" preventive approach (Abstinence, Being faithful and Condom use) and keep away from such evils as drug addiction and prostitution.

Source: Xinhua