The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is granting US$20 million in grants and
loans to help Laos and Vietnam address the growing risk of HIV infections in
border areas including casinos.
"As people and products move
more freely across borders, so do communicable diseases, such as HIV," ADB
economist Emiko Masaki said in a statement.
"This project will help in
strengthening the HIV response systems of Vietnam and Laos to protect their
most vulnerable populations with information, skills, supplies and access to
quality healthcare services," she said.
The statement said the border
regions had some of the poorest and most isolated populations, "with
limited access to health services and limited knowledge of HIV risks."
"New cross border roads, and
the mushrooming of hotels, casinos and other businesses in border areas, have
increased the threat of HIV infection," it said.
The statement noted that adult
HIV prevalence was modest at 0.4 per cent in Vietnam and 0.2 per cent in Laos.
"But the disease has spread
to all districts in Viet Nam and is rising in border zones. Meanwhile, being
surrounded by countries with higher HIV prevalence has created a high-risk
environment for Lao PDR," the statement said.
News Desk
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