The US Agency for International Development (USAID) announced on Nov. 3 two five-year programmes to support Vietnam implementing a sustainable response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

USAID granted 45 million USD to FHI 360, a US-based non governmental organisation, to carry out a programme strengthening the sustainable management of national HIV/AIDS action in Vietnam by 2016.

The programme aims to maintain the delivery of quality HIV prevention, care and treatment services in critical areas in the future.

"Vietnam, with support from USAID and other donors, has made impressive gains in addressing HIV," said USAID Mission Director Francis Donovan.

USAID also awarded 25 million USD to Research Triangle Institute (RTI) International to boost the capacity to work with the Vietnamese Government on the implementation of the national HIV/AIDS strategy.

The programme will co-operate with networks of people living with HIV to help increase their participation in the HIV response at the local, provincial and national levels.

USAID assistance will focus on preventing HIV transmission among the most-at-risk populations, including needle injecting drug users and their partners, commercial sex workers, male clients of sex workers, and men who have sex with men.

Since 2000, USAID has contributed 510 million USD for development and relief activities in Vietnam./.