Vietnamplus

Vietnam is working to expand the use of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) service and antiretroviral (ARV) drugs to reduce HIV infections in the community.

In Vietnam, since the first infection was detected in 1990 in Ho Chi Minh City, there are 213,008 HIV carriers who are still alive and 107,812 deaths from HIV/AIDS.

The national action month on HIV/AIDS prevention and control is underway, providing an occasion for Vietnam and partners to look back on anti-HIV/AIDS achievements obtained over the last 30 years.

Over 12,000 people nationwide have registered to use Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) service since its launch in 2017, helping to control HIV infections in the community, according to statistics from the Ministry of Health (MoH).

Nearly 13,000 people living with HIV nationwide have been provided with Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) service over the last two years, helping to control HIV infections in the community.

Vietnam will expand the national programme for Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention to 15 more cities and provinces following the positive outcomes of the pilot implementation in 11 localities over the past one year.

The Vietnam Administration of HIV/AIDS Control (VAAC) under the Health Ministry, the US Embassy and several international organisations held a seminar in Hanoi on August 30 to discuss the private sector’s participation in Vietnam’s HIV/AIDS prevention and control programme.

Simultaneous events were held in Hanoi, Hai Phong city, Nghe An province and Ho Chi Minh City on March 8 to celebrate the first patients receiving antiretroviral (ARV) drugs covered by social health insurance (SHI).

The Ministry of Health (MoH) has been advised to amend some regulations so as to have 100 percent of people living with HIV covered by health insurance by 2020.

Much like home testing kits, the oral HIV quick test method will be launched in Vietnam for the first time, said an official of the Ministry of Health’s (MoH) Vietnam Administration for HIV/AIDS Control (VAAC).

A total of 1,200 people who are at high risk of contracting HIV have been provided with Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), which can reduce the risk of infecting HIV if taken consistently.

Gender inequality contributes to the spread of HIV and reduces women and girls’ capacity of response to the epidemic, heard a workshop on January 17.

HCM City targets a serious reduction in the number of AIDS cases by 2030, according to the city’s Health Department.

Vietnam must step up efforts to ensure 90 percent of HIV-infected people will receive sustained antiretroviral (ARV) therapy by 2020, in line with the international UN target, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam said at a meeting of National Committee for AIDS, Prostitution and Drug Prevention on December 8.

The fourth International Conference and Exhibition on Automation and Industrial Equipment (VAAC 2017) will take place at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre, HCM City from November 29 to December 2.

Deputy Director of the VAAC Hoang Dinh Canh has denied rumours that Vietnam will not continue providing methadone treatment due to claims it is ineffective for synthetic drug addicts.

The Health Ministry’s Vietnam Authority of HIV/AIDS Control has announced that it will use buprenorphine to treat nearly 500 drug users in the provinces of Dien Bien, Nghe An and Son La this year

Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), which offers up to 92 percent reduction in the risk of contracting HIV if taken consistently, will be offered on a trial basis to people at high risk, including those in the LGBT community, in Ho Chi Minh City from March 2017 to September 2018.

An HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis (TB) integrated treatment model has continued to be piloted at district and communal clinic centres in 18 provinces with high and medium rate of HIV this year.

With women facing increased risks of HIV infection, experts are calling for greater emphasis on addressing the needs of women and girls in the national HIV response.