Organisations involved in HIV/AIDS prevention and control need to chasefunding as sources are drying up, a workshop in Hanoi on April 24 wastold.

The two-day workshop was titled Reviewing FinancialMechanisms and Building New Ones organised by the Vietnam Union ofScience and Technology Associations (VUSTA).

The workshopdiscussed a reduction in funding from international sources and theState budget. There is now just enough to meet 50 percent of HIV/AIDSproject needs at a time when activities are increasing.

Theworkshop focused on reviewing all laws and Government documents forfinancial mechanisms and policies related to HIV/AIDS prevention andcontrol.

Dr Pham Van Tan, VUSTA Vice President, said that based on what was found, new solutions would have to be sought.

HoangThi Hien, a member on the National Committee for HIV/AIDS, Drugs andProstitution Prevention and Control, said that the State-funded NationalTarget Programme on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control for 2012-15 wouldend this year.

"This poses a challenge," Hien said. She addedthat although the HIV/AIDS Law encouraged businesses to engage inHIV/AIDS prevention and control activities, many showed little or nointerest or their efforts were half-hearted.

The workshop wastold that 80 percent of the funds available for HIV/AIDS prevention andcontrol in Vietnam had come from international sources.

The money has been used to fund communications, consultation, testing, for emergency treatment and monitoring.-VNA