'Light at the End of the Tunnel' and Storytellers from the Front Lines of HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control

SKĐS - Before the National Press Awards Ceremony on HIV/AIDS prevention and control on the evening of December 10, many entries attracted attention for their humanistic depth and the mark of "frontline witnesses" in HIV/AIDS prevention and control.

The National Press Awards Ceremony on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control will officially take place at 8:00 p.m. on December 10 at the Vietnam-Soviet Friendship Labor Cultural Palace, broadcast live on VTV9 and digital platforms of the Health and Life Newspaper.

This year, the National Press Award on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control received more than 1,200 entries from central and local press agencies and grassroots health media systems. Many entries were sent by officials from the Center for Disease Control (CDC), grassroots health workers and peer educators – “witnesses of the front line” – truly reflecting the perseverance and silent sacrifice in supporting people with HIV.

Among them, the reportage "Light at the end of the road" by the group of authors Manh Hung, Ngoc Phuong, Hoang Yen, Quynh Trang, Tien Dat, Thanh Hai, The Thiem, Quyet Thang, Tien Sinh (from CDC Quang Ninh ) stands out when depicting the journey of more than 20 years of silent dedication of Dr. Luu Thanh Hai - Head of HIV/AIDS Prevention Department, Center for Disease Control of Quang Ninh province.

Image of Dr. Luu Thanh Hai visiting each patient's house to encourage, share and accompany them to overcome the disease. Photo cut from the report.

With more than 20 years of dedication to treating, counseling and accompanying people infected with HIV, Dr. Hai has become a friend, a brother, and a spiritual support for many disadvantaged people.

Portrait of a doctor with more than 20 years of dedication to HIV/AIDS prevention and control in Quang Ninh province.

Sharing with reporters, author Ngoc Phuong said that the team chose the title "Light at the end of the road" as a metaphor for the hope and escape that Dr. Hai brought to patients from the days when HIV was still heavily stigmatized. He bravely entered gathering places, approached the community, counseled and treated, helping patients leave the darkness of inferiority.

"On the seemingly dead-end path of the patient, Dr. Hai is the light," Ngoc Phuong shared.

Not only treating and maintaining ARV compliance for thousands of patients, Dr. Hai also actively communicates and tests the community, contributing to reducing stigma and changing social awareness.

The report ends with the image of the doctor continuing to quietly bring light to the patient – ​​true to the spirit of the title.

The authors share stories surrounding the report "Light at the end of the tunnel".

According to author Hai Yen, the team unanimously chose Dr. Hai as the central character as soon as they received information about the journalism award. With more than two decades of dedication to HIV/AIDS prevention and control in Quang Ninh, Dr. Hai is a typical example of dedication and compassion.

" The crew spent a lot of time developing the script, choosing the filming location, and finding materials so that the work is truly a tribute to the silent contributions of the medical team," Hai Yen said.

Photo of the crew during the report. Photo provided by CDC Quang Ninh

Sharing about the visual language, author Quynh Trang said that the report opens with the scene of Dr. Hai visiting each patient's house in the dark - authentic moments showing the perseverance of HIV/AIDS prevention staff. At the end of the report, the image of the boat, the sun and the light are symbolic, at the same time reminding of the characteristics of Quang Ninh - a coastal province with many island communes, where medical staff have to cross the sea, go to islands, and go to remote villages to reach patients.

" In particular, the image of the ferry is a very real, very real detail. The ferry not only evokes the familiar rhythm of life in the Quang Ninh island sea, but also symbolizes the journey of Dr. Hai and his colleagues - those who have spent their youth persistently rowing through the difficult days of the epidemic, bringing patients from the darkness of fear to a place of light and hope ," the female author shared.

'The National Press Awards Ceremony on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control' - an event chaired by the Ministry of Health, the Department of Disease Prevention in coordination with the Health and Life Newspaper will officially take place at the Vietnam-Soviet Friendship Labor Cultural Palace at 8:00 p.m. on December 10, 2025.

The three main award groups include written works, photographic works and television-multimedia works, with a total of 12 awards given: 3 First Prizes, 3 Second Prizes, 3 Third Prizes and 3 Encouragement Prizes.

In addition, 5 "Red Ribbon" awards are also reserved to honor works with strong humanitarian spirit, spreading sharing and determination to push back HIV/AIDS in the community.

The program is broadcast live on VTV9 channel and digital platforms of Health and Life Newspaper.

Source: https://suckhoedoisong.vn/anh-sang-phia-cuoi-duong-va-nhung-nguoi-ke-chuyen-tu-tuyen-dau-phong-chong-hiv-aids-169251209112055561.htm