Nghe An has more than 5,700 people infected with HIV

On the morning of November 22, Nghe An Department of Health held a conference to review 5 years of implementing Methadone treatment and agreed to implement Buprenorphine treatment in Nghe An province in 2019. Mr. Duong Dinh Chinh - Director of the Department of Health chaired the conference.

Director of the Department of Health speaking at the conference. Photo: Tien Hung

Nghe An is a province with a high number of HIV-infected people, ranking 6th in the country. Currently, the whole province has more than 5,700 people living with HIV and being managed. The epidemic situation is in a concentrated stage and tends to become complicated. At the same time, Nghe An is also one of the key provinces in terms of drugs (both trafficking and use), this is also one of the difficult factors for controlling and managing the HIV/AIDS situation in the province.

Examination, consultation, and medication for HIV patients at Que Phong Medical Center. Photo courtesy

The Methadone program has been implemented in Nghe An since September 2012. Up to now, the whole province has 12 treatment facilities and 16 drug dispensing facilities that have been put into operation, facilitating patients to access and take medicine every day. In addition, Nghe An is also one of the first 5 provinces in the country selected by the Ministry of Health to pilot the implementation of the opiate addiction treatment program using Buprenorphine with 38 patients currently being treated.

The conference also rewarded many individuals and groups. Photo: Tien Hung

Although Methadone is a safe and highly effective treatment, the fact that patients have to go to medical facilities every day to take it is also an obstacle in maintaining treatment, especially for patients in mountainous provinces or remote areas.

According to the leader of the Department of Health, Buprenorphine treatment, in addition to the same benefits as Methadone, also has the effect of prolonging the effectiveness of the drug, so when treated with Buprenorphine, patients only need to go to the medical facility once every 2-3 days. This significantly reduces travel time for patients, especially those who live far away.

The conference also agreed to expand the Methadone and Buprenorphine treatment program in the province in the coming time. The disease control center and medical units in the province will continuously study and exchange expertise and improve the quality of service provision, creating favorable conditions for patients to be examined and treated with the best quality. Thereby improving the health and quality of life for addicts, contributing to reducing the spread of HIV and some related diseases among opium addicts in the community.