Ensuring financial support for HIV/AIDS prevention

As of June 30, 2018, Nghe An has detected 9,594 cases of HIV infection (including 5,869 cases of HIV infection that turned into AIDS; 3,993 cases of AIDS-related deaths). The number of infected people is concentrated in 21/21 districts, cities, and towns with 446/480 communes, wards, and towns having detected infected people.

Comrade Le Minh Thong gave a speech at the meeting. Photo: My Ha

During the period 2015 - 2018, projects under the PEPFAR program(is an aid program for 15 countries to prevent HIV/AIDS, of which Vietnam is one of the sponsored countries) has supported the province in implementing HIV/AIDS prevention activities from access, prevention, testing and counseling, treatment care and monitoring and evaluation... to achieve the province's goals in implementing the "Strategy towards the target 90 - 90 - 90 for the period 2015 - 2017, vision 2020".

Currently, 100% of districts have access, testing and treatment services, 7 mountainous districts have commune health stations dispensing ARV drugs to nearly 500 patients, and have implemented routine testing and monitoring of virus levels for 100% of patients...

From September 30, 2018, the reception of all HIV/AIDS intervention and service provision activities supported by PEPFAR Projects will end and be transferred to the province.

Leaders of the HIV/AIDS Prevention Center report on the results of HIV/AIDS prevention. Photo: My Ha

From this reality, at the meeting, delegates had many opinions to discuss solutions to ensure financial support for HIV/AIDS prevention in the coming years to maintain the effectiveness of activities. The total budget is estimated at about 27 billion VND/year (currently lacking about 5 billion VND/year, in addition to the amount from health insurance, target programs and other sources).

Concluding the meeting, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Le Minh Thong highly appreciated the efforts of the units in HIV/AIDS prevention.

Propaganda, outreach to find new HIV cases in the community. Photo: Thanh Son

From the results achieved, the Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee affirmed that in the coming time, HIV/AIDS prevention work will continue to be maintained. To do so, the health sector must take the lead and develop a detailed plan, closely following each content.

During the transfer process, it is necessary to re-evaluate assets, facilities and resources. At the same time, it is necessary to plan and develop specific programs for each activity, have a plan for human resource arrangement and detailed cost estimates. Try to implement early so that on October 1, 2018, it will be put into operation under new conditions, ensuring the completion of assigned tasks.