The Vietnamese government has decided to offer monthly allowances worth at least 4.1 US dollars to local poor people living with HIV/AIDS, Labor newspaper reported Monday.

Under a recent government decision, poor HIV carriers living in communities are to enjoy an allowance of at least 65,000 Vietnamese dong (VND) (roughly 4.1 US dollars), and HIV-positive adults in state-run social patronage centers 140,000 VND (8.8 dollars). Children in the centers receive at least 210,000 VND (13. 2 dollars) each.

Recently, the Secretariat of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee urged local relevant agencies to step up HIV/ AIDS prevention, along with intensified fights against drug addiction and prostitution, and fostered socio-economic development.

The agencies are beefing up publicity about HIV/AIDS with contents 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.

Vietnam is estimated to have some 241,000 HIV carriers, many of whom contract the disease after having sex with infected prostitutes or sharing injecting syringes with infected drug addicts, according to the country's Health Ministry.

Vietnam plans 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.

Source: Xinhua