Nghe An strives to end AIDS epidemic in the province before 2030

PV:It is known that the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Vietnam in general and Nghe An in particular is still very complicated. Can you tell us more about the situation?

Mr. Thai Van Nhan:In Vietnam, since the first case of infection was detected in 1990 in Ho Chi Minh City, up to the first 9 months of 2024, the whole country recorded more than 11,400 new cases of HIV positive, of which nearly 1,300 people died. Of the newly detected HIV infections since the beginning of the year, 82.9% were men, mainly aged 15-29 (40%) and 30-39 (27.3%).

In Nghe An, since the infection caseHIV/AIDSFirst detected in 1996, as of October 31, 2024, the whole province had 21/21 districts, towns, cities and 436/460 communes, wards and towns with infected people; with 11,037 people infected with HIV reported. Of which, 6,651 cases progressed to AIDS, 4,650 cases of HIV/AIDS died, the number of HIV/AIDS cases still alive was 6,387 people.

In the first 10 months of 2024 alone, there were 136 new cases of HIV infection detected, 46 cases progressed to AIDS, and 68 cases died. Number of casesHIV/AIDSThe remaining residents are concentrated in localities such as Que Phong, Vinh city, Quy Chau, Tuong Duong, Dien Chau.

In Nghe An, HIV infection is mainly transmitted through blood (71.46%), the main target is the group of drug injectors (67.69%), the group of female prostitutes accounts for 0.82%, the group of men having sex with men accounts for 1.19%. The rate of HIV infection is mainly in men (77.86%). The age group with the highest concentration of HIV-infected people is mainly from 25-34 years old (48.33%).

The HIV/AIDS epidemic in Nghe An is still complicated. There are still many undetected infected people in the community. The province is a key locality for drugs, both trafficking and use, and therefore, is also a key HIV/AIDS area in the country. Infected people themselves are hiding their illness or do not take testing seriously to receive treatment...

PV:New studies have shown that the HIV/AIDS epidemic is undergoing a clear change in its transmission patterns. Among newly diagnosed HIV-infected individuals, men who have sex with men (MSM) are the main source of infection... What exactly is this, sir?

Mr. Thai Van Nhan: Since 2015, in Nghe An, the trend of HIV infection from drug injection is decreasing and the trend of infection through sexual intercourse, especially homosexual intercourse, is increasing. According to calculations by experts in Nghe An, there are nearly 10,000 people who have sex with men (MSM) - more than the number of drug injection users managed in the province. Nghe An currently has a group of MSM with about 1,000 people who have publicly...

The reason why homosexual sex has a high risk of infection is because this is not a natural relationship, so it is easy for scratches and infections to occur. The reason for the number of people infected with HIV in the MSM group is because this group lives evenly in provinces and cities, making it difficult to reach by region like drug addicts in the past. Social networks have developed with associations and groups dedicated to people with homosexual needs flourishing, making it easy for them to find and contact many sexual partners.

Furthermore, MSM do not have the psychological fear of pregnancy, so the use of condoms - one of the contraceptive methods - is not as important as sexual relations between men and women. In addition, some people in this group may have group sex and have multiple partners. They also tend to use stimulants such as drugs, alcohol, beer... to increase pleasure and find a different feeling, leading to loss of control over safe behavior. Many cases do not know clearly about their sexual partners, especially their health status.

According to preliminary statistics, in the province there are currently about 200 men who have sex with men undergoing preventive treatment, and over 80 men who have sex with men infected with HIV are undergoing ARV treatment. If we do not have effective ways to prevent and control HIV, the risk of an HIV outbreak from this group is very high.

PV:In addition to changes in infection patterns, what other difficulties does Nghe An face in HIV/AIDS prevention and control?

Mr. Thai Van Nhan: Nghe An is currently facing many difficulties in HIV/AIDS prevention and control. Firstly, the province has a large area, complex terrain, inconvenient traffic, and difficult travel, so access to services for high-risk groups is still limited.

Second, the epidemic situation has not shown any signs of decreasing, with the number of newly discovered infections each year concentrated in mountainous districts. In these areas, people's living conditions, awareness and knowledge of health care are limited, making it difficult to access information on HIV prevention as well as access harm reduction intervention programs.

Third, HIV/AIDS prevention and control activities face difficulties in accessing and providing prevention services and harm reduction interventions for high-risk groups, due to the continued stigma and self-stigma against people living with HIV and people in high-risk groups.

Fourth, some district-level laboratories do not perform regular confirmatory testing due to difficulties in purchasing and bidding for testing reagents.

Fifth, the staff directly responsible for HIV/AIDS prevention and control, although receiving attention, is still lacking compared to actual requirements. Human resources at facilities have changed or hold multiple positions.

Finally, communication activities on HIV/AIDS prevention and control are mainly integrated with other programs due to financial constraints. Funding from projects has been cut, while funding for AIDS prevention and control from the provincial budget is still not much. The facilities of some current treatment facilities have degraded, affecting the operation process, causing difficulties for medical staff at the facilities.

PV:With the above mentioned difficulties, how has Nghe An Health sector organized HIV/AIDS prevention and control?

Mr. Thai Van Nhan: It must be said that the work of HIV/AIDS prevention and control in Nghe An in recent times has received the attention and direction of the Provincial Party Committee, the People's Council, the Provincial People's Committee; the direction of the Ministry of Health, the support of the Department of HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control, projects and international organizations.

With that attention, direction and support, Nghe An Health Sector has fully implemented the tasks and solutions stated in Directive No. 07-CT/TW and Plan No. 562/KH - UBND dated October 6, 2021 of the Provincial People's Committee on strengthening HIV/AIDS prevention and control, towards ending the AIDS epidemic in Nghe An before 2030. Activities include: Promoting communication, providing information on HIV/AIDS, gender, reproductive health, safe sex; harmful effects of drugs; warning of the risk of HIV infection among young people; consolidating and maintaining the HIV/AIDS prevention and control system at all levels; strengthening the management and treatment of people infected with HIV; building HIV testing counseling facilities, ARV treatment, Methadone... integrated in medical facilities to help patients easily access health care services; Collaborate with community organizations, social enterprises, and private healthcare to provide services from prevention to treatment and comprehensive care.

At this time, 21/21 districts, cities and towns have HIV counseling and testing facilities; the whole province has 9 HIV confirmation laboratories; 26 ARV treatment facilities (23 state medical facilities, 2 facilities in prisons and 1 private facility); 12 treatment facilities and 20 facilities dispensing Methadone.

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With the synchronous implementation of many solutions, the number of people infected with HIV in the province being managed and treated is increasing. ARV treatment for HIV-infected patients has helped them stabilize their health and psychology to integrate into normal life. Many people infected with HIV do not infect their spouses; many couples can still have children who are not infected with HIV.

Mr. Thai Van Nhan - Deputy Head of HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Department, Nghe An Provincial Center for Disease Control

PV:To achieve the goal of ending the AIDS epidemic in Nghe An before 2030, what solutions do we need, sir?

Mr. Thai Van Nhan:To reduce the number of new HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths, minimize the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic on socio-economic development, and end the AIDS epidemic by 2030 (AIDS is no longer a worrying health problem in the community), Party committees, authorities, the Fatherland Front and organizations at all levels need to pay attention, take strong action, and implement tasks and solutions according to Directive No. 07-CT/TW and Plan No. 562/KH-UBND. Accordingly, it is necessary to continue to effectively implement the Law on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control and policies and regimes for people with HIV/AIDS, fight stigma, discrimination, and ensure equal rights for people with HIV when accessing social services; strengthen inter-sectoral coordination to comprehensively and effectively implement HIV/AIDS prevention and control.

Regarding specific solutions, synchronously and qualitatively deploy the following activities: HIV testing consultation (maintaining the operation of testing consultation facilities and the system of connecting and referring people infected with HIV; implementing testing consultation activities, focusing on high-risk groups; providing testing in many forms); Maintaining and promoting HIV/AIDS care and treatment activities at 26 facilities, implementing well the supply and regulation of ARV drugs, ensuring that patients receive continuous treatment, providing preventive treatment for mother-to-child transmission for 100% of pregnant mothers infected with HIV, continuing to implement HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis with ARV drugs (PrEP) at PrEP treatment facilities; Maintaining and improving the quality of treatment for opioid addiction with Methadone replacement drugs

Innovate and improve the quality of information, communication and education on HIV/AIDS prevention and control to effectively impact all subjects, communities, families and people, especially young people and groups at high risk of HIV infection. The immediate goal is to successfully organize the National Action Month for HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control in 2024 in Nghe An province according to Plan No. 913/KH-UBND dated November 22, 2024 of the People's Committee of Nghe An province, with the theme "Fairness and equality in access to HIV/AIDS prevention and control services - towards ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030".

In addition, it is necessary to strengthen and maintain the network of community outreach workers and village and hamlet health workers; effectively implement harm reduction intervention programs in HIV/AIDS prevention and control in localities; prioritize HIV infection prevention interventions for groups at risk of increasing HIV epidemics, including men who have sex with men, drug users, transgender women, sexual partners, injecting partners of HIV-infected people and other risk groups.

PV:Thank you!