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Participants suggested enhancing authorities’ attention to HIV prevention and control, supporting livelihoods for HIV patients, and improving the role of socio-political organisations in helping borrowers use loans effectively. Photo: UN Women/Ngoc Duong

This is an activity in the joint project between UN Women and Vietnam Women's Union, about empowering women infected and affected by HIV.

The project aims to promote gender responsive policies that support people with HIV and capacity building for women living with and affected by HIV.

Speaking at the event, Country Representative of the UN Women in Vietnam Elisa Feznandes said the event aims to seek measures to improve HIV-infected women’s access to loans and legal assistance, as well as their livelihoods.

She added that households affected by HIV easily fall into poverty due to higher antiretroviral (ARV) cost, thereby affecting their access to education and other opportunities.

According to her, HIV-infected women not only need ARV drug and medical services but also social support and livelihood guarantee.

Country Representative of the UN Women in Vietnam Elisa Feznandes speaks at the event. Photo: UN Women/Ngoc Duong

"Nearly 50% of HIV-infected women in the surveyed areas say they do not know where to go to get loans, only a few HIV-infected women can get loans from the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies. In addition, complicated procedures are a major barrier facing HIV-infected women in accessing capital. Stigma and discrimination, as well as fear of HIV status, are also a major challenge," Nguyen Thi Tuyet Mai, research team leader shared during the workshop.

Deputy Director of the VBSP’s Credit Department for students and other social beneficiaries said the loan programme for HIV patients and their families is piloted in 15 cities and provinces during 2016-2020. The bank has so far offered loans worth VND14 billion (USD 605,000) to them.

However, the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs reported that only 84% HIV patients and families received loans, or 16.7% of eligible ones in accordance with the Prime Minister’s Decision No.29/2014/QD-TTg.

During the workshop, agencies and departments also shared ideas to better understand the challenges facing HIV-infected women in accessing credit provided by the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies and offer solutions, propose policies to improve their access to loans and livelihoods.

In recent times, UN Women has collaborated with many agencies and organisations to build capacity and support empowerment of groups and networks of HIV-affected women.

With the assistance of UN organisations in Vietnam, the VWU has for many years been actively supporting HIV-infected women through a series of models, including building capacity for women living with HIV to participate in building and implementing related policies and programmes towards ensuring equality.

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