SCDI effectively supports Nghe An in preventing and fighting HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis

SCDI is a non-public science and technology organization, established by the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations in 2010. SCDI's activities are to improve the quality of life and social integration of vulnerable people (injecting drug users, men who have sex with men, transgender women, sex workers, young people who use crystal meth, people with HIV, homeless people and people living in slums).

Conference to review the work in 2021 and plan for implementation in 2022 on TB - HIV/AIDS prevention and control activities sponsored by SCDI. Photo: Thanh Chung

SCDI has been present and operating in Nghe An since 2015. In 2021, SCDI has coordinated with Nghe An CDC, Methadone treatment rooms,HIV/AIDS, Que Phong District Medical Center, Nghe An Lung Hospital, Nghe An Dermatology Hospital, private medical facilities and community groups implemented 3 projects in the province, including: Global Fund for HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Project, Protecting the Future Project and Global Fund for Tuberculosis Prevention and Control Project.

With the Global Fund project to fightHIV/AIDS, SCDI and its partners have assessed the HIV epidemic situation among injecting drug users and men who have sex with men; provided community-based interventions; and strengthened community-based organizations. As a result, 1,835 people have been reached, 1,602 people have been tested, 25 new HIV infections have been detected, 21 people have been referred for ARV treatment, and 145 people have been referred for Methadone treatment...

Pharmacist Tran Minh Tue - Deputy Director of the Department of Health expressed his wish that SCDI would continue to expand the area of ​​project implementation in Nghe An. Photo: Thanh Chung

With the Protect the Future project, SCDI and its partners have strengthened the capacity of community organizations to prevent HIV infection among young drug users aged 16-24 through multidimensional, specialized interventions such as HIV interventions, substance use interventions, and mental health interventions. During the year, the project reached 144 people and implemented interventions and health care.

With the Global Fund to Stop Tuberculosis project, SCDI and its partners have conducted community screening for 907 people including drug users, people undergoing Methadone treatment, people with HIV, people with TB symptoms, prisoners who have completed their prison sentences, homeless people, people in contact with people with TB, etc. Thereby, 5 people with TB and 48 people reacting to latent TB were detected.

Ms. Khuat Thi Hoai Oanh - Director of SCDI affirmed: In 2022, SCDI will continue to coordinate with units in Nghe An to intervene and provide preventive services to prevent and fight HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis. Photo: Thanh Chung

Speaking at the conference, leaders of Nghe An Department of Health highly appreciated SCDI's activities in Nghe An and expressed their hope that SCDI would continue to expand the project implementation area; increase support activities in equipment, supplies, human resources, training, and communication to help Nghe An better implement the work of preventing and fighting HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis.

Ms. Khuat Thi Hoai Oanh - Director of SCDI also said: In 2022, SCDI will continue to coordinate with units in Nghe An to intervene and provide preventive services to prevent and control HIV/AIDS; expand the model of assessing the HIV epidemic situation among drug injecting groups and men who have sex with men in mountainous districts; promote TB and latent TB screening activities; support people with TB and latent TB in treatment; intervene in harm reduction, provide counseling to support behavior change, and support mental health for synthetic drug users, especially in key drug areas./.