Implementing the reception of activities of the HIV/AIDS Prevention Support Project in Vietnam

On the morning of December 28, Nghe An Department of Health held a conference to summarize the results of 5 years of activities (2013-2018) and to deploy the reception and sustainable maintenance of activities transferred by the project "Support for HIV/AIDS prevention in Vietnam" from January 1, 2019.

Access to HIV/AIDS prevention propaganda for high-risk groups in remote areas. Photo: Archive

The Vietnam HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Support Project (VAAC-US.CDC) is part of the United States Government's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). The project aims to contribute to reducing HIV transmission through effective prevention measures; improving care, support and treatment for people living with HIV/AIDS; and enhancing the capacity and infrastructure of the AIDS prevention system.

After more than 10 years of implementation in Nghe An, the project has achieved positive results, contributing to the implementation of the national target of HIV/AIDS prevention and control in the province from prevention to HIV/AIDS care and treatment. The project has provided voluntary testing and counseling services to tens of thousands of people with high-risk behaviors for HIV infection, ARV treatment and support care for nearly 2,000 patients, as well as implementing the TB/HIV coordination program, the mother-to-child transmission prevention program, viral load testing, etc.

The conference deployed plans, measures and solutions to maintain good implementation of HIV/AIDS prevention work. Photo: Thanh Chung

To date, the project and program have officially ceased funding. In addition to the above results, the VAAC-US.CDC Project has left Nghe An province with a community outreach team, self-help groups (unpaid) that have been trained by the project, as well as some facilities and equipment for HIV/AIDS prevention.

To promote the results that the project has brought, on September 21, 2018, Nghe An Provincial People's Committee issued Plan No. 617/KH-UBND on receiving the results of transferring projects under the PEPFAR Program and solutions to ensure the maintenance of HIV/AIDS prevention activities in Nghe An province.

At the conference, Nghe An Department of Health deployed Plan No. 617/KH-UBND of the Provincial People's Committee. The purpose and requirements of the plan are: Receiving the results of projects under the PEPFAR Program, including the VAAC-US.CDC Project; ensuring the maintenance of HIV/AIDS prevention activities to achieve the 90-90-90 target by 2020; controlling the HIV infection rate in the community below 0.3%.../.