Early HIV/AIDS Care and Treatment Model: For a Healthy Life of Patients

Benefits of early, comprehensive, and ongoing HIV/AIDS care and treatment

Talking to the reporter of Health and Life Newspaper, Dr. Phan Thi Thi - Deputy Director of Bac Ninh Center for Disease Control No. 1 said that the model of care and treatment for HIV/AIDS patients currently being implemented under the direction of the Department of Disease Prevention ( Ministry of Health ) is early treatment, comprehensive and continuous care.

As soon as a patient is confirmed to be HIV positive, they will be prescribed antiretroviral (ARV) treatment as soon as possible, ideally within 24 hours. Early intervention helps control the virus effectively, protects the immune system and significantly reduces the risk of infection to others. Every year, patients are treated with antiretroviral (ARV) drugs according to the Ministry of Health 's regimen and the effectiveness of treatment is assessed by measuring the viral load in the patient's blood.

Mô hình chăm sóc và điều trị HIV/AIDS sớm: Vì cuộc sống khỏe mạnh của người bệnh- Ảnh 1. — BSCKI Phan Thi Thi - Deputy Director of Bac Ninh Center for Disease Control No. 1.

Not only stopping at using ARV drugs, the model also focuses on detecting and promptly treating common co-infections such as tuberculosis, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, etc. and other opportunistic infections.

In addition, patient care and treatment are ensured continuously through a strict management system. "We use two core software: HIV INFO 4.0 to manage patient information throughout the commune level, to the province, and HMED to manage the treatment process. This system helps connect units, ensuring patients receive uninterrupted care, even when they change their place of residence or treatment facility" - BSCKI Phan Thi Thi shared.

Currently, Bac Ninh Center for Disease Control No. 1 is assigned to manage 5 HIV/AIDS outpatient clinics (in the old Bac Giang province), including: Outpatient clinic of Bac Ninh Center for Disease Control No. 1, Outpatient clinic of Bac Ninh General Hospital No. 1; Outpatient clinic of Tan Yen Medical Center, Luc Ngan Medical Center and Lang Giang Medical Center.

HIV/AIDS outpatient clinics are not just places where patients receive medication, but also a "fulcrum" for comprehensive health care. Here, patients receive regular check-ups, viral load testing, nutritional counseling, and home care instructions.

Of the 1,540 HIV/AIDS patients in the area managed by Bac Ninh Center for Disease Control No. 1, 1,435 people are being treated in the community and 105 people in prison are all receiving ARV treatment according to the Ministry of Health's regimen.

The monitoring results show that more than 98% of patients have a viral load below the suppression threshold, meaning that they are almost no longer able to transmit HIV and protect their immune system. This is a clear demonstration of the effectiveness of the early treatment strategy. Currently, the percentage of patients receiving ARV treatment in the community with health insurance cards is 1421/1435, accounting for 99%.

Towards the goal of "No new infections, no discrimination"

The effective implementation of the model of early, comprehensive and continuous HIV/AIDS care and treatment at 5 HIV/AIDS outpatient clinics managed by Bac Ninh Center for Disease Control No. 1 has had active technical support from the Department of Disease Prevention and the close direction of the Provincial People's Committee and the Provincial Department of Health.

Using resources from: Local budget to implement the "Plan to ensure finance for the implementation of the National Strategy to End AIDS by 2030 in the province"; Health Insurance Fund; International support projects including the Global Fund Project and the US HIV/AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF).

The Global Fund project supports technical training and ARV drug supply for patients without health insurance cards or with interrupted health insurance cards (prison inmates), and child patients. The AHF project supports drugs to treat opportunistic infections and prevent tuberculosis at 3/5 HIV/AIDS outpatient clinics and for patients who are prisoners in prisons.

"Thanks to this support, we have never let any patient's treatment be interrupted for even a single day. This is an important coordination, contributing to maintaining a stable treatment regimen and improving the effectiveness of controlling the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the locality" - Dr. Phan Thi Thi said.

In the coming time, Bac Ninh Center for Disease Control No. 1 will advise the Department of Health to continue to maintain the model of early, comprehensive and continuous HIV/AIDS care and treatment with 5 HIV/AIDS outpatient clinics currently in charge, while continuing to improve the quality of treatment, ensuring that over 98% of patients have viral loads below the suppression threshold.

The center also strengthens coordination between health care levels, ensuring continuity in patient management and monitoring, while advising the Department of Health to maintain an effective and practical model.

Mô hình chăm sóc và điều trị HIV/AIDS sớm: Vì cuộc sống khỏe mạnh của người bệnh- Ảnh 2. — BSCKI Phan Thi Thi shared, "HIV/AIDS is no longer a death sentence if treated early and medication is followed."

" HIV/AIDS is no longer a death sentence. If treated early, adheres to medication and receives adequate care, patients can live healthy lives, work and contribute to society like everyone else " - Dr. Phan Thi Thi affirmed.

She also hopes that the community, each individual and each organization will contribute a small part through communication work on HIV/AIDS prevention and control. The community, social organizations and businesses should create an environment without stigma and discrimination, create equal employment opportunities and spiritual support so that people with HIV are not alone.

Health and Life Newspaper in collaboration with the Department of Disease Prevention (Ministry of Health) launched the 'National Press Award on HIV/AIDS prevention and control'.

The National Press Award on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control is an award organized by the Health & Life Newspaper in collaboration with the Department of Disease Prevention (Ministry of Health), to honor outstanding press works that truly reflect typical individuals and groups in all regions of the country in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

RULES OF THE "NATIONAL PRESS AWARD ON HIV/AIDS PREVENTION AND CONTROL" ARE AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1. Name of the Award

"National Press Award on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control"

Article 2. Topics

Outstanding individuals and groups from all over the country in the fight against HIV/AIDS; vividly reflecting the efforts and contributions of groups and individuals in propaganda, prevention, care, treatment and support for people infected with HIV/AIDS and vulnerable groups; contributing to eliminating stigma and discrimination, spreading the spirit of humanity and community responsibility.

Article 3. Contestants

All Vietnamese citizens aged 18 and over, living in and outside the country. Members of the Organizing Committee, Jury, and Secretariat are not allowed to participate.

Article 4. Regulations on contest entries

1. Genre:

- Reportage, memoir, notes, portrait

- Photo: Reportage with at least 10 photos, telling a story through images on a topic related to HIV/AIDS.

- Television, multimedia: Television programs, documentaries on traditional platforms (TV) or electronic platforms, social networks.

2. Form of expression:

Entries can be in many different forms:

- In traditional form (article, video) In new form: Infographic, emagazine, megastory, longform... or combine many forms in one work to best convey the content, message and meaning of the work.

Note:

We do not accept works in the genre of news or regular events related to HIV/AIDS. All works must have a specific topic, be in-depth, have clear ideas and characters.

Do not use fictional characters; do not use special effects to change content or images; do not use artificial intelligence to create works.

3. Contest conditions of the work

- Eligible works must be published and broadcast from July 10, 2024 to November 20, 2025.

- For cases that have not been published or broadcast: The Organizing Committee will select to publish on the Health and Life Newspaper and the Newspaper's ecosystem.

- The Organizing Committee has the right to disqualify incomplete or non-compliant applications.

- The Organizing Committee will not return unqualified works.

4. Application documents

- Author/group information: Full name, pen name (if any), date of birth, gender.

- Contact information: Permanent address, phone number, email.

- Work unit (if any).

- Data to be submitted when participating in the contest:

+ Electronic newspaper: electronic newspaper link.

+ Television: Audio and video with script/narration.

+ Press photos: high resolution original image files, full captions.

- How to submit entries: submit your entry online via the website: https://giaibaochi2025.skds.vn

Article 5. Rights and responsibilities

1. Author

- Responsible for copyright, accuracy and legality of the work.

- Agree to let the Organizing Committee use the work for propaganda, exhibition, and publication (with the author's name clearly stated) in the media and press.

2. Organizing Committee

- Information security, public and transparent scoring and selection.

- Have the right to use the contest entry for communication purposes, not for commercial purposes.

Article 6. Time and address for receiving works

- Time of receipt: From the launch date to November 20, 2025 (calculated from the time of online submission).

- Receiving address: Send online via https://giaibaochi2025.skds.vn.

Article 7. Prize structure

- Award-winning works are divided into 3 groups, each group includes 4 award levels.

+ Written works

+ Group of photographic works

+ Television and multimedia group

- Total of 12 prizes, including: