(VOVworld) – Vietnam saw the number of new HIV cases decrease 26% and the number of deaths from AIDS decrease 48% in the first 6 months of 2014. The statistics were reported by the National Committee for AIDS, Drugs and Prostitution Prevention and Control at an online conference on Friday.

HIV infected children are taken care in Ho Chi Minh city. (Photo: VOV)

According to the Ministry of Health, HIV/AIDS has been controlled unevenly in different regions. A number of remote mountain areas are struggling to control the epidemic which is continuing to spread there. Big cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh city are facing various ways of infection among high-risk groups.

Drug-related crimes remain complicated. In the first half of this year, 15,000 people were arrested for drug-related crimes and 480 kg of drugs were seized.