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AROUND THE WORLD 2: Vietnam Hosts HIV/AIDS Meeting

Vietnam hosted the first East Asia and Pacific Regional Consultation on Children and HIV/AIDS this week. U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Michael Marine was among the 250 delegates in attendance at the three-day meeting in Hanoi.

The East Asia-Pacific region currently has over 31,000 children infected with HIV, and approximately 1.5 million minors are orphaned through HIV/AIDS.

"The issue of orphans and vulnerable children has not been a major part of the debate surrounding HIV/AIDS in Asia," Marine told Voice of America. "I believe it is time for that to change."

Hans Troedsson, head of the World Health Organization in Hanoi, is focused on getting HIV-positive women in Asia enrolled in current HIV/AIDS programs, particularly those preventing mother-child transmissions.

Other issues that were covered included fully implementing drug treatment for HIV-positive children, continued efforts in HIV/AIDS prevention education, and the social/cultural stigma of HIV/AIDS in Asia.

--Written by Teresa Liao

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