35 years of HIV/AIDS prevention: 'Remarkable progress of the medical sector and the whole society'

Social activist Nguyen Anh Phong shared: 'Now, people with HIV have much easier access to healthcare. That shows the clear progress of the medical sector and the whole society'.

Recently, at Parc Mall (District 8, Ho Chi Minh City), the program "35 years of HIV in Vietnam" was organized by the Ho Chi Minh City HIV/AIDS Prevention Association.

Dr. Tieu Thi Thu Van, President of the Ho Chi Minh City HIV/AIDS Prevention Association and Head of the Organizing Committee, said: "This year, for the first time, we are organizing the program at a shopping mall, where everyone can witness, listen, and share. Because people living with HIV are confident enough to live healthy and useful lives."

35 years of effort - determined to end AIDS by 2030

Sharing with Thanh Nien Newspaper reporter, Dr. Nguyen Luong Tam, Deputy Director of the Department of Disease Prevention, Ministry of Health said: "From the first infection case in 1990 to now, Vietnam has gone through 35 years of HIV/AIDS prevention. We are treating more than 182,000 people, of which more than 160,000 people are covered by health insurance for ARV drugs."

Dr. Nguyen Luong Tam, Deputy Director of the Department of Disease Prevention, Ministry of Health, was moved to watch the program.

PHOTO: LE NAM

The health sector aims to end the AIDS epidemic in Vietnam by 2030, with the "95 - 95 - 95" strategy: 95% of people living with HIV know their status, 95% of people who know their status receive ARV treatment, and 95% of people on treatment have a viral load below the infectious threshold.

However, Mr. Tam also warned about some new challenges: "In 2024, the whole country will have more than 13,000 new HIV infections. Notably, the number of young people infected is increasing. Therefore, we need to educate early and popularize knowledge about HIV prevention in the community, especially young people."

He emphasized: "People living with HIV are not scary. What is scary is ignorance and silence. Stigma needs to be eliminated from all sides - from society, health workers and people living with HIV, to move towards a more tolerant and understanding community."

HIV is no longer a death sentence

One of the most poignant moments of the show was when an MC suddenly asked: "If you have HIV, how long can you live?". On stage, each person stood up and answered: "8 months for me", "10 years for me", "33 years for me".

Those responses are the most vivid proof that: HIV is no longer a death sentence. HIV can be controlled. And people with HIV can absolutely live happy, healthy, and useful lives.

Social activist Nguyen Anh Phong, who received the "HIV Hero" award in the Asia-Pacific region, shared: "I remember the past, to get ARV treatment drugs, we had to go through a 'graduation exam' where we were questioned and scrutinized. But now, people with HIV have much easier access to healthcare. That shows the clear progress of the medical industry and the whole society."

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/35-nam-phong-chong-hiv-aids-su-tien-bo-ro-ret-cua-nganh-y-va-toan-xa-hoi-185250704084731526.htm