Preventing and Treating HIV

Location: Ho Chi Minh City

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:

The second year of the project continued screening for STIs and HIV/AIDS, strengthening access to treatment of opportunistic infections and STIs, as well as continuing to train staff in HIV prevention, diagnosis and treatment of conditions linked to HIV and the administration of ARV.At the end of 2006, 308 patients were on ARV treatment.

Outlook:

A pilot project of methadone substitution for intravenous drug users is due to start by the end of June 2007. The number of patients on ARV treatment should reach 485 and the number of beneficiaries on the methadone programme should be 200 by the end of December 2007.

Project start date: December 2004

End date: March 2008