US accompanies Vietnam in HIV/AIDS prevention and control efforts
VOV.VN - The 20th anniversary since the implementation of the United States President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) was celebrated on May 9 in Hanoi.
As part of his address, US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc E. Knapper, stated that co-operation in health constitutes a very important basis in terms of the relations between the two nations, adding that Vietnam represents the first and only nation in Asia to receive assistance from PEPFAR since its establishment.
The US has been the largest sponsor of the Vietnamese HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Program, with the scheme helping the country to obtain important results in the fight against HIV/AIDS, he said.
In the 2021 to 2022 period, PEPFAR Vietnam provided important techniques aimed at assisting 8,727 patients accessing Anti-retroviral (ARV) therapy and helping to maintain ARV drug use for another 89,000. In addition to treating people living with HIV, PEPFAR's activities focus on helping people gain access to comprehensive prevention services, including HIV testing, counseling, and strategic communications, he continued.
Upon addressing upon the event, US Ambassador-at-Large John N. Nkengasong, global AIDS coordinator of the US and special representative for Global Health Diplomacy, emphasised the need for broader linkages between the two countries and PEPFAR's intention to accompany the Southeast Asian country in this process.
Vietnamese Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan said that after 30 years, the nation has 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 details given by the <inister, 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 that have the most amount of people living with HIV, representing 45.2% of the country.
The Vietnamese Government has pledged, with PEPFAR’s support, to continue to develop financial mechanisms for the sustainable delivery of HIV/AIDS prevention and control services, she said.
It will strive to enhance the participation of the private sector and social organisations in the investment and provision of HIV prevention and control services in a bid to ensure the effective use of the mobilised resources, the Vietnamese Minister of Health added.