Launching an HIV program to achieve the 90-90-90 target.

(Baonghean.vn) -On the afternoon of October 6th, Nghe An province launched its HIV program to achieve the 90-90-90 target, aiming to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic by 2030.

Attending the ceremony were: Mr. Bui Dinh Long - Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Director of the Department of Health, leaders of the HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Center, the USAID delegation, and representatives of USAID projects in Nghe An.

A panoramic view of the ceremony.

The United Nations' 90-90-90 target means that 90% of people living with HIV know their status, 90% of those diagnosed with HIV receive antiretroviral (ARV) treatment, and 90% of patients receiving ARV treatment have a viral load below the transmissible level.

In response to the above goal of ending the AIDS epidemic in Vietnam by 2030, the health sector in Nghe An province has been strengthening cooperation with USAID to be even more proactive in HIV/AIDS prevention and control.

Within the framework of the PEPFAR program, since 2008, USAID has funded Nghe An province to implement HIV/AIDS prevention and control activities such as the FHI 360, CARE, CHP, and COHED projects, to address emergency outbreaks, especially in mountainous districts with high infection rates such as Que Phong and Quy Chau.

Dr. Bui Dinh Long, member of the Provincial Party Committee and Director of the Department of Health, affirmed that HIV/AIDS prevention and control in Nghe An has been implemented comprehensively with many solutions, initially controlling and reducing transmission in the community.

However, Nghe An is a large area, and in recent years, along with socio-economic development, the risk of the pandemic has been changing. Therefore, the health sector has actively advised the provincial leadership on how to respond to the current situation, and one of the ways to do this is to participate in the 90-90-90 target movement.

Dr. Bui Dinh Long, Director of the Department of Health, expressed his desire to receive technical assistance from sponsoring organizations and units to support the search and detection of HIV/AIDS-infected individuals, and to provide medical supplies to quickly combat the epidemic in the province.

USAID representative Joakim Parker pledged cooperation and support to the province to continue successfully implementing measures to combat this devastating disease.

Representing USAID, Mr. Joakim Parker, USAID Director in Vietnam, affirmed that one of the areas the US Government has focused on investing in Vietnam over the past 10 years is healthcare, and cooperation between the two countries in this field is becoming increasingly close.

Mr. Parker noted that Vietnam in general, and Nghe An in particular, are very concerned about the care and treatment of HIV/AIDS patients. Looking towards a future free of HIV/AIDS, USAID will support Vietnam in building more sustainable ways to maintain HIV/AIDS prevention and control activities, and expects Nghe An to be a model for HIV/AIDS prevention and control that other localities can learn from and replicate.

The ceremony also received feedback and commitments from representatives of healthcare facilities, community groups, and USAID projects in Nghe An.

Dr. Nguyen Van Dinh, Director of the HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Center, affirmed the achievements made and the direction of implementation in the province in the coming time.

On behalf of all hospitals in the province, the leadership of Yen Thanh General Hospital pledged to work towards the goal of making every grassroots healthcare worker an HIV/AIDS prevention and awareness campaigner.

Mr. Reed Ramlow, Head Representative of the International Family Health Organization - FHI 360 in Vietnam, affirmed that the ceremony demonstrated the community's shared determination to combat HIV/AIDS.

The delegates symbolically presented the medical supplies.

…and cut the ribbon to launch the HIV program to achieve the 90-90-90 target in Nghe An.

Thu Giang