HIV infection rate 2.5 times higher, Phu Tho expands free HIV testing area

HIV infection takes 5-7 years to turn into AIDS

Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Hoang Long, Director of the Department of HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control, said that the number of 42 people infected with HIV in Kim Thuong commune shows that the HIV epidemic situation here is quite serious, the HIV infection rate is about 2.5 times higher than the national average, and measures to control the epidemic are needed immediately.

Medical staff visited and encouraged people of Kim Thuong commune.

Faced with suspicions that HIV infection could have been caused by sharing needles during injections by Doctor T, through a field trip here, Dr. Long said that there was no basis to conclude the source of HIV infection in Kim Thuong commune.

"Because HIV infection is a chronic disease. It usually takes an average of 5-7 years for a person to develop AIDS from the time they are infected with HIV. Therefore, the number of people who have contracted AIDS and died in Kim Thuong commune proves that the HIV epidemic here has existed for a long time, not just a recent outbreak that has accumulated over many years.

Among the 42 HIV patients, there was one person infected with HIV who had progressed to AIDS, but had only visited a private doctor in the area for the first time 6 months ago. Thus, it cannot be concluded that the HIV infection was due to doctors in the area sharing needles. Regarding the people in Kim Thuong commune, Tan Son, Phu Tho, the HIV infection is suspected to have been due to using medical services," said Dr. Long.

Dr. Long also assessed that after the first case of HIV infection was discovered in Kim Thuong commune in 2012, the number of newly discovered HIV-infected people and the number of deaths due to AIDS in Kim Thuong commune has been increasing.

Among the 42 HIV cases detected, some have progressed to AIDS. In addition, from 2015 to now, 5 people have died from AIDS. This information shows that HIV infection in Kim Thuong commune has been occurring for a long time. It is possible that this is an HIV epidemic that has been accumulated for a long time, and has only been discovered through widespread HIV testing.

In response to the HIV epidemic here, the Ministry of Health has directed the Phu Tho provincial health sector to organize free HIV testing for people in Kim Thuong commune and neighboring areas if needed. HIV screening is now very simple and can be done at the commune health station or at home. The Ministry of Health requires the Phu Tho health sector to be ready to organize mobile testing for patients right at home.

The Phu Tho health sector also needs to inform HIV test results to those who are unfortunately infected with HIV; provide advice, explanation, and support for immediate treatment with free ARV drugs for those infected with HIV in the commune.

Invite the World Health Organization to support research

"Having HIV is not the end. Because if an HIV-infected person is treated with ARV drugs early and adheres to treatment, they can still live a healthy life and have the same life expectancy as someone who is not infected with HIV. Moreover, ARV treatment will help reduce the amount of HIV virus in the blood and can reduce the possibility of transmitting HIV to their wife or partner through sex by up to 95%," Dr. Long affirmed.

Meanwhile, treatment with ARV drugs is very simple. ARV drugs are provided free of charge at district hospitals or commune health stations. HIV-infected people can receive monthly medication to take at home; when stable, they can go to a medical facility to receive medication once every three months.

To assess the HIV epidemic situation here, the Ministry of Health has asked the Central Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology to take the lead in conducting a survey to find out the causes of the high HIV infection rate in Kim Thuong commune.

However, this research will take several months to complete and has been assigned to the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology as the focal point, in coordination with the Department of HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control, the World Health Organization (WHO) and relevant agencies of Phu Tho province to urgently conduct objective scientific research to find out the cause.

"It is necessary to comprehensively consider the transmission routes and related factors, such as the situation of people in the commune going far away to work during the off-season, the situation of prostitution, drug addiction, as well as many other risk factors," said Dr. Long.

In addition, the Phu Tho health sector needs to increase propaganda to improve knowledge for people in the region about HIV/AIDS prevention and control. HIV/AIDS is a dangerous infectious disease, but it is not scary if there is correct understanding of this disease.

HIV infection is completely preventable through preventive measures, such as safe sex, using condoms, using clean needles, treating addiction to opioids with replacement drugs (such as Methadone)...

If you are unfortunately infected with HIV, you must immediately participate in ARV treatment to ensure your own health and at the same time reduce the risk of HIV infection to your relatives and the community. Nowadays, if you are infected with HIV and treated early with ARV drugs, you can still live a long and healthy life.