US Helps Vietnam Maintain HIV/AIDS Community Infection Rate Below 0.3%

At the event.

A ceremony to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) took place in Hanoi on May 9, VNA & VNS reported Tuesday.

The celebration was attended by Vietnamese Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan; Deputy Health Minister Nguyen Thi Lien Huong; US Ambassador-at-Large John N. Nkengasong, US Global AIDS Coordinator and Special Representative for Global Health Diplomacy; US Ambassador to Vietnam, Marc E. Knapper; Peter Sands, Executive Director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria; UNAIDS Deputy Executive Director Angeli Achrekar and representatives of the Government Office, Ministry of National Defense, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Vietnam Social Security and leaders of Departments of Health and Centers for Disease Control in 11 provinces and cities including Hanoi, Hai Phong, Quang Ninh, Thai Nguyen, Ba Ria - Vung Tau, Binh Duong, Dong Nai, Long An, Tay Ninh, Tien Giang, and Ho Chi Minh City.

In his remarks, Ambassador Marc E. Knapper, said that cooperation in health constitutes a very important basis in the relations between the two countries, adding that Vietnam is the first and only nation in Asia to receive assistance from PEPFAR since its establishment.

The US has been the largest sponsor of Vietnam's HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Programme, helping the country achieve important results in the fight against HIV/AIDS, he said.

The diplomat went on to say that in 2021-2022, PEPFAR Vietnam provided important techniques to assist 8,727 patients accessing Anti-retroviral (ARV) therapy and helped maintain ARV drug use for another 89,000. In addition to treating people living with HIV, PEPFAR's activities focus on helping people access comprehensive prevention services including HIV testing and counseling and strategic communications.

"Happy 20th anniversary the US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. I’m honored to join Global AIDS Coordinator Ambassador Nkengasong to celebrate this most successful public health program globally, which has saved over 25 million lives in 20 years," he said.

US Ambassador to Vietnam, Marc E. Knapper speaks at the event.

Speaking at the event, US Ambassador-at-Large John N. Nkengasong expressed his delight over PEPFAR's achievements. The ambassador noted that HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment remained challenging, and therefore, both sides needed to cooperate more closely.

He said that Vietnam was truly a global example of sustainability and domestic resource mobilisation through the health insurance programme in the prevention and control of HIV/AIDS. Vietnam had been very responsive in adapting to innovations and scientific advances to comprehensively implement measures.

Another important factor for the country's success was its ability to attract the participation of various stakeholders, from national-level ministries and agencies to provincial-level organisations, civil society organisations, private sector and community-based organisations, he said.

The ambassador expressed confidence that Vietnam would continue to achieve many successes in reaching the HIV/AIDS treatment targets set by the United Nations Joint Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).

He stressed that PEPFAR hoped to continue to accompany Vietnam on this journey, highlighting the need for greater cooperation between the two countries and PEPFAR's intention to accompany the Southeast Asian country in this process.

Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan said the United States President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief has been among the largest sponsors of HIV/AIDS prevention and control programmes in Vietnam in recent years.

Health Minister Dao Hong Lan said that after 30 years, the country managed to reduce the number of those infected with HIV and AIDS-related deaths. The infection rate has been kept below 0.3%.

According to the minister, along with the Global Fund, PEPFAR is one of the largest sponsors of the Vietnam HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Programme. Currently, PEPFAR is providing support in 11 locations with the largest number of people living with HIV, representing 45.2% of the country.

The Government of Vietnam is committed, with PEPFAR’s support, to continuing to develop financial mechanisms for the sustainable delivery of HIV/AIDS prevention and control services, she said.

It will strengthen the participation of the private sector and social organisations in the investment and provision of HIV prevention and control services to ensure the effective use of the mobilised resources, Lan added.

Nguyen Thi Lan, a beneficiary, said she was diagnosed HIV positive in 2020. Two years later, she got pregnant.

“Thanks to all the interventions in PEPFAR-supported programmes, my baby was born HIV-free. My baby is now six months old and doing well,” she said.

Another beneficiary, who is only known as Sơn, said he wanted to protect his own health when having casual affairs.

“Taking a PrEP pill every day is now my habit. It means a lot to me,” he said.

The Minister of Health awarded the Certificate of Merit and the Medal "For People's Health" to the PEPFAR Program.

At the celebration, the Vietnamese Ministry of Health awarded the Certificate of Merit and the Medal "For People's Health" to the PEPFAR Program.

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