Plan to implement the National Action Month for HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control in 2023 in Vietnam

Plan to implement the National Action Month for HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control in 2023 in Vietnam (Internet image)

Plan to implement the National Action Month for HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control in 2023 in Vietnam

The content is mentioned in Official Dispatch 6875/BYT-UBQG50 implementing the National Action Month for HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control in 2023, issued by the Ministry of Health—Standing Agency for AIDS Prevention and Control.

Implement the 2023 HIV/AIDS prevention activity plan of the National Committee for AIDS, drug, and prostitution prevention and control and respond to World AIDS Day (December 1); the National Committee for Prevention and Control of AIDS, Drugs, and Prostitution launches the 2023 National Action Month for HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control nationwide from November 10 to December 10, 2023.

In 2023, Vietnam chose the theme of Action Month as "Creative Community - Determined to end the AIDS Epidemic by 2030!" (Plan attached).

Ministry of Health (Standing agency of the National Committee for Prevention and Control of AIDS, Drugs, and Prostitution) requests the Steering Committee for AIDS, drug, and prostitution prevention and control of ministries, branches, unions, and provinces, as well as centrally run cities, to develop plans, direct, organize, and supervise activities of the National Month of Action for HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control in 2023 in accordance with the situation and characteristics of each locality and unit.

At the end of Action Month, the Steering Committee for AIDS, drug, and prostitution prevention and control of ministries, branches, unions, provinces, and centrally run cities will evaluate, summarize, and send a report to the Ministry of Health (via the Department of HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control—Alley 8 Ton That Thuyet, My Dinh 2, Nam Tu Liem, Hanoi) before December 20, 2023, for the Ministry of Health to synthesize and report to the Government and the Chairman of the National Committee for Prevention and Control of AIDS, drugs, and prostitution.

Plan Objectives: Promote HIV/AIDS prevention and control activities to reduce the number of new HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths, end the AIDS epidemic in Vietnam by 2030, and minimize the impact of HIV/AIDS on socio-economic development, including:

- Mobilize the participation of leaders, policymakers, service providers, and the entire community to participate in HIV/AIDS prevention and control to continue progress toward the goal of ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030.

- Strengthen activities to prevent HIV infection, test for early detection and treatment of HIV/AIDS, ensure participation in health insurance for people living with HIV, and provide comprehensive services on HIV/AIDS prevention and control for people, especially vulnerable people, people with high-risk behaviors, people living in remote areas, and ethnic minorities.

- Reduce stigma and discrimination against people infected with HIV and people affected by HIV/AIDS; strengthen the support of family and society for people with HIV/AIDS and the responsibility of people with HIV/AIDS to family and society; Increase community participation in HIV/AIDS prevention and control activities.

- Continue to expand service coverage and improve the quality of prevention services, HIV testing, health insurance, and HIV/AIDS treatment; treat co-infections such as viral hepatitis, tuberculosis, and sexually transmitted diseases for all people.

For the theme of the National Action Month for HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control in 2023, Vietnam chose the theme "Creative Community - Determined to end the AIDS Epidemic by 2030!".

Who is the community?

Community needs to be understood broadly, including ministries, central and local organizations, units, private enterprises, industrial parks, community organizations, and target communities: Workers, students, and especially groups with risky behaviors that easily transmit HIV: Men who have sex with men, transgender women, injecting drug addicts, prostitutes, and sexual partners of the above groups.

Why is it necessary to be creative in HIV/AIDS prevention in Vietnam?

After 30 years of HIV/AIDS prevention and control, there are many good initiatives and effective models that have been applied in communication, behavior change education, and accessing services from HIV infection prevention to harm reduction interventions to HIV/AIDS-related treatment.

However, up to the present stage in which there have been changes in HIV/AIDS epidemiological factors, HIV/AIDS prevention resources, and the organizational system of specialized agencies in charge of HIV/AIDS prevention and control at the provincial level, along with people's understanding of HIV, sympathy for people living with HIV, and target populations that have increased in the general development of the whole society, HIV/AIDS prevention and control also needs new, creative, and appropriate approaches.

What does it mean to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030 in Vietnam?

On August 14, 2020, the Prime Minister approved the National Strategy for HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control for the coming period, including the goal of ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030. The development of a new strategy is an urgent requirement to ensure full and timely concretization of the Party's policies and guidelines on HIV/AIDS prevention and control, and in accordance with the new situation, Resolution 20-NQ/TW dated October 25, 2017 of the Central Executive Committee on strengthening the protection, care, and improvement of people's health has set the goal that by 2030, Vietnam will basically end the AIDS epidemic.

Ending the AIDS epidemic does not mean that there are no more people infected with HIV or dying from AIDS, but that AIDS is no longer a worrying health problem in the community. The goal of ending the AIDS epidemic is achieved when Vietnam achieves the following criteria:

- The number of newly discovered HIV-infected people reaches less than 1,000 cases/year (currently >10,000 cases/year).

- The rate of people infected with HIV and deaths related to HIV/AIDS is less than 1.0/100,000 people (currently, it is estimated at 3.5/100,000 people).

- The rate of HIV transmission from mother to child is below 2% (currently 6%).

More details can be found in Official Dispatch 6875/BYT-UBQG50 of 2023.

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