U.S. Ambassador-at-Large John N. Nkengasong, U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator and Special Representative for Global Health Diplomacy, joined by U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam, Marc E. Knapper, hosted the 20th Anniversary of the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) on May 9 in Hanoi.

Maintaining 99 percent viral suppression rate

US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc E. Knapper spoke at the event (Photo: PEPFAR Vietnam)

Addressing the significance of the 20th founding anniversary of PEPFAR, U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Marc E. Knapper said that medical cooperation is a very important foundation in the bilateral relationship between the two countries.

He named the important milestones that PEPFAR achieved in Vietnam, stressing that Vietnam is the first and only country in Asia to receive PEPFAR's funding, just one year after the relief was established. In the next 10 years, the U.S. was the largest donor to Vietnam's HIV/AIDS prevention and control program.

With PEPFAR's support, Vietnam has made significant progress since 2014 in mastering and leading HIV prevention and control efforts.

From 2021 to 2022, PEPFAR Vietnam provided important technical assistance to support the enrollment of 8.727 new antiretroviral therapy patients, while helping to retain at least 89.000 on treatment.

Vietnam's program maintained an impressive 99 percent viral suppression rate in the 11 PEPFAR focus provinces in the Northern Economic Zone and the Ho Chi Minh City Metropolitan Region.

Beyond treating people with HIV/AIDS, Vietnam is focused on combination prevention, which allows clients to access comprehensive prevention services, including HIV counseling and testing, strategic communication designed to educate populations most at-risk.

"These achievements clearly demonstrate the joint efforts of PEPFAR and the Government of Vietnam to develop a sustainable, impactful national HIV response program to accelerate progress towards the UNAIDS's global goal to control the HIV epidemic by 2030," said Ambassador Marc Knapper.

A global example of sustainability and domestic resource mobilization

U.S Ambassador-at-Large John N.Nkengasong spoke at the event (Photo: Nhung Nguyen)

U.S Ambassador-at-Large John N.Nkengasong reaffirmed that in the fight against HIV/AIDS, Vietnam stands out as a global example of sustainability and domestic resource mobilization through its Social Health Insurance program. He was impressed with the Government of Vietnam's efforts to fund and manage many components of its HIV response, including paying for all HIV treatment services and medicines.

Also, Vietnam was quick to adapt to innovations and scientific advances to implement a comprehensive response. For example, the rapid and recent expansion of PrEp services is a major achievement. PrEP in Vietnam officially started in 2020 and after just three years, the cumulative number of PrEP customers has reached 67.000, with 51.000 customers using PrEP by 2022. Vietnam ranks second in the Asia-Pacific region in terms of the number of PrEP users, said U.S Ambassador-at-Large.

Since 2017, the Government of Vietnam has been working with stakeholders and community-based organizations to address HIV-related stigma and jointly deliver the message U=U (Undetectable= Non-transmissible), or K=K in Vietnamese, into treatment and prevention programs that empower people living with and affected by HIV to know that they cannot transmit the virus if they receive treatment.

John N.Nkengasong ended his speech by praising that Vietnam engaged a wide range of stakeholders in the work of HIV/AIDS prevention and control.

"Another critical element to Vietnam's success is its ability to engage a wide range of stakeholders, from ministries and agencies at the national level, to provincial agencies, academic and research institutes, social organizations, the fast growing private sector, and dedicated community members and community-based organizations," said John.

At the ceremony, representatives of PEPFAR in Vietnam received Certificate of Merit from the Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan for PEPFAR's contribution to Vietnam's HIV/AIDS prevention and control work.​​​​ (Photo: Nhung Nguyen)

Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan congratulated PEPFAR's achievementst, such as reducing the number of new HIV infections detected, reducing the number of people transitioning to AIDS and reducing the number of AIDS-related deaths. Thanks to PEPFAR's support, Vietnam has kept the HIV infection rate in the population below 0.3%. These are very impressive numbers, showing the strong political commitment as well as the involvement of the whole Vietnamese political system.

According to Minister Dao Hong Lan, together with the Global Fund, PEPFAR is one of the two largest donors in Vietnam's HIV/AIDS prevention and control program. The Government of Vietnam is committed, said Lan, to continue to develop financial mechanisms for the sustainable delivery of HIV/AIDS prevention and control services. Together with stakeholders across various sectors, the Government of Vietnam will improve HIV prevention and control services to ensure effective use of mobilized resources.

Community-based organizations, partners of PEPFAR in Vietnam presented at the ceremony (Photo: Nhung Nguyen).

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