Many efforts and determination in preventing and fighting HIV/AIDS

Responding to the National Action Month on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control (November 10 - December 10, 2024) and commemorating World AIDS Day on December 1, in recent times, Hanoi has always made efforts in HIV/AIDS prevention and control and achieved a number of achievements.

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has been implemented since 2018 and is currently being maintained at 13 facilities. (Source: VGP)

Director of the Hanoi Center for Disease Control Bui Van Hao said that since the first HIV infection case was detected in 1991, Hanoi has had 33 years of responding to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Up to now, the cumulative number of HIV/AIDS cases in Hanoi is 22,568 cases, of which 7,635 have died and 14,933 are still alive. The number of HIV cases living in Hanoi accounts for 5.5% of the total number of HIV cases living in the country, 100% of districts in Hanoi have people living with HIV.

Hanoi has always made efforts in HIV/AIDS prevention and control and has achieved many successes. Typically, there is a tight HIV/AIDS prevention and control organization system from the city to districts, communes and wards with the participation of all levels and sectors; the provision of HIV/AIDS prevention and control services is constantly updated, innovated, applying the latest initiatives, scientific achievements and recommendations of international organizations to help expand coverage and improve the quality of services.

In addition, the HIV prevention intervention program in the City has been implemented synchronously, focusing on groups at high risk of HIV infection (drug users, sex workers, homosexuals, transgenders, etc.). The program of distributing syringes, condoms, and lubricants has covered 30/30 districts, towns, and cities; 80% of people at high risk of HIV infection (drug addicts, sex workers, men who have sex with men) have been accessed and received services. Methadone treatment was implemented in 2009 with one treatment facility in Nam Tu Liem, by October 2024 there were 23 facilities across the city, treating 4,807 patients in accordance with regulations of the Ministry of Health.

In particular, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a new breakthrough in HIV infection prevention that has been implemented since 2018 and is currently being maintained at 13 treatment facilities (6 private treatment facilities and 7 public treatment facilities). The number of customers using PrEP services at least once in the first 9 months of 2024 is 8,861 people...

HIV testing is increasingly improved in technology and expanded in scale, testing techniques to detect new infections have been deployed in the past 2 years. In terms of form, in addition to traditional testing (customers come to the testing consultation room themselves), other forms of access and testing have been expanded, such as community testing and self-testing, online access for high-risk subjects through social networking sites. In recent years, Hanoi has tested about 300,000-400,000 customers each year to detect HIV-infected people early for treatment, contributing to improving the quality of the program.

The ARV treatment program was implemented in 2000 at Dong Da General Hospital for 50 patients. To date, there are 23 ARV treatment facilities for 13,493 patients. Notably, 98% of patients on ARV treatment have been tested for HIV viral load, 99.2% have viral load below the suppression threshold, they are completely healthy and do not infect others through sex, significantly reducing the situation of mothers transmitting HIV to their children. The number of new infections and deaths has decreased significantly.

In addition, over the years, Hanoi has implemented diverse and flexible models of HIV/AIDS prevention and control service provision. In addition to public and private HIV/AIDS prevention and control service provision facilities, there have been mobile and community outreach service provision models, helping to bring services closer to high-risk groups. Hanoi has also increased training and capacity building for health care workers in working with high-risk groups. Intensive training courses on HIV/AIDS and skills in approaching and counseling these specific groups have helped improve service quality and reduce stigma from health care workers.

However, a number of barriers remain in accessing HIV/AIDS prevention and control services. Adolescents, men who have sex with men (MSM), and other vulnerable groups still have difficulty accessing services due to stigma, discrimination, and financial constraints. In addition, dependence on international aid remains high, especially for prevention and treatment programs. These issues hinder the goal of reducing the spread of HIV and ensuring care for all.

Promoting the achievements, aiming to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030, in the coming time, Hanoi will increase the attention of leaders, policy makers and the whole society to HIV/AIDS prevention and control; promote the provision of comprehensive HIV/AIDS prevention and control services: HIV infection prevention, HIV testing, early HIV/AIDS treatment and ensuring health insurance participation of HIV-infected people towards increasing access to HIV/AIDS prevention and control services for people; reduce stigma and discrimination against people with HIV, people affected by HIV/AIDS and people with high-risk behaviors for HIV infection; increase family and social support for people with HIV, create conditions for people with HIV and their family members to participate in social activities, especially HIV/AIDS prevention and control activities.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/nhieu-no-luc-quyet-tam-trong-phong-chong-hivaids-295735.html