A contest themed “Painting and composing messages about care and anti-stigma and discrimination against children affected by HIV/AIDS in 2016” was launched on July 7 in Hanoi.

The contest was organised by the Department of Child Care and Protection under the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs in collaboration with The Family and Child magazine.

The contest calls for society to protect and help children affected by HIV while raising public awareness to change attitudes, behaviours and discrimination against them.

All Vietnamese and foreign children living in Vietnam aged 6-16 are encouraged to send entries to The Family and Child magazine, at No. 139 Nguyen Thai Hoc street, Ba Dinh district, Hanoi, before October 30.

Each participant can send a maximum of five A3-size paintings or five messages of less than 50 words.

The awards for the contest include two first prizes, each worth VND5 million (US$220), four second prizes, each worth VND3 million (US$130), and four third prizes, each worth VND2 million (US$88).

The awarding ceremony will be held in November in response to the National Action Month on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control.