This was affirmed by Eamonn Murphy, Director of the Joint UN programme on HIV/AIDS, at a conference in Hanoi on September 14 to review the results of Vietnam-UN cooperation in preventing and combating HIV/AIDS.

In Vietnam, most HIV/AIDS patients have late access to treatment. This will reduce the effectiveness of the treatment and increase the HIV/AIDS-related death toll.

The UN is assisting Vietnam to pilot the treatment, Mr. Murphy said, adding that the new therapy aims to provide anti-viral treatment to more patients.

In 2011, the Joint UN programme on HIV/AIDS is focused on building a national strategy on HIV/AIDS prevention for the 2011-2020 period by organizing various workshops.

Participants in the conference said international resources for HIV/AIDS in Vietnam will decrease. Vietnam, therefore, should introduce proper policies to increase the role of civil and private organisations in combating HIV/AIDS.