Here are some experts’ opinions on Vietnam’s management to achieve its HIV prevention goal.

The Country Director for the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) in Vietnam, Eamonn Murphy says that in recent years Vietnam has made significant progress in carrying out its commitments to prevent, treat, care and support people with HIV/AIDS. Vietnamese leaders have made some positive changes in policies related to HIV prevention programmes at both central and local levels.

In 2008, 60 out of 63 Vietnamese provinces and cities provided clean needles and 57 out of 63 ones offered condoms. Methadone detoxifications and the prevention of the mother-to-child transmission of HIV programme have also achieved significant results. In 2009, one in every three mothers with HIV received treatment.

Despite these efforts, over the past three years, Vietnam has not achieved the targets set by the Government for 2010. For example, it has just reached half of its target to access 90 percent of HIV carriers to treatment while HIV-related stigma and discrimination still rise, says Mr Murphy.

In addition, Vietnam also faces problems such as no HIV services in prisons or detox services.

As Vietnam is going to become a middle-income country it will receive less foreign aid and likely to see a drop in funding for HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment services.

Mr Murphy says that prevention is still the most important task and Vietnam should pursue this as it is more economic. Every US$1 spent on prevention activities, the country saves US$8 on HIV/AIDS treatment.

He suggests that Vietnam should mobilise all its resources for HIV prevention and combine prevention programmes with other medical care and social support programmes. Methadone detoxification and providing clean needles and condoms for drug users and sex workers should also be expanded.

Vietnam should also step up its HIV/AIDS prevention programme in prisons and social and labour camps. When foreign aid phases out, the country must mobilise other resources and use them as effectively as possible, says Mr Murphy. Furthermore, Vietnam should consider its ability to produce antiviral drugs, methadone, condoms, and needles.

He says that UN agencies should continue to be key partners with the Vietnamese Government and introduce more effective HIV/AIDS programmes. They should also maintain their level of technical assistance and outline action programme such as producing methadone in the country. Although Vietnam will soon become a middle income country, it still needs further support in the next five years to achieve its millennium development goals in HIV/AIDS.

Chu Quoc An, deputy Head of Vietnam Administration of HIV/AIDS Control, says there should be improvements in providing detailed information on HIV/AIDS to raise public awareness of the issue.

In recent years there has been less discrimination against people with HIV/AIDS. Thanks to the assistance of Pham Thi Hue in Hai Phong and other activists in Hanoi, other people living with HIV/AIDS now have a more positive attitude towards their lives and assume greater responsibility for their families.

Peer group education plays a very important role in combating HIV/AIDS. The lessons drawn from their own experiences have greatly reduced the threat of HIV infections in society and in highly vulnerable target groups. These groups cannot carry on with their work if they are not determined and enthusiastic. They only receive moderate support while their work is still very sensitive and it is hard to get sympathy from the public.

Hue, who lives with HIV/AIDS says that she is taking part in the Greater Involvement of People living with HIV (GIPA), a UN project to disseminate information on HIV/AIDS in Hai Phong. The project encourages people living with HIV to get involved in publicity campaigns as well as training to change the public’s attitude towards people living with HIV. It also assists people living with HIV to seek loans and jobs through a network of clubs.

Hue says that she feels healthier when she takes part in the activities. Many people doubt after meeting her or seeing her on TV, that a person living with HIV can stay healthy for more than 10 years. Some people living with HIV even call to ask her how to keep fit.

She says that it is because she leads a very simple life and tries to relax and do more good things for her family and society as this is very important to her. She also keeps a balanced diet under the direction of the doctors and drinks a lot of milk. She is at her happiness when taking part in these activities.