Access to Community Healthcare

Location: Hanoi

Situation:

In November 2006, Vietnam became the 150th member of the World Trade Organization. With 9.5% growth in 2006, the Vietnamese economy may be thriving but 1.4 million households live below the poverty line. Vietnam s economic development is deepening inequalities: the poverty rate is 18.3% in urban areas and 44.9% in rural areas. Drug use and prostitution, which are both criminalised by the government, promote the spread of HIV which, according to UNICEF, could affect around 300,000 people.

Activities:

In 2006, the following activities were carried out:
• Providing HIV tests, consultations for primary healthcare, STIs, opportunistic infections and ARV treatment in our Day Care Centre (district clinic);
• Prevention, needle exchange, condom distribution and home-based care by two mobile teams;
• Promotion of income-generating activities within solidarity groups;
• Training for healthcare and social welfare staff.
At the end of 2006, 78 patients were on ARV therapy.

Outlook:

By the end of 2007, 160 patients will be receiving anti-retrovirals and 25,000 people will have been contacted by the mobile teams and the clubs.

Project Start date: August 2005

End date: July 2008