Early, strict ARV treatment prevents HIV transmission

A person living with HIV taking antiretroviral (ARV) therapy daily as instructed by doctors and maintaining the condition of undetectable viral load  will have no risk to transfer HIV virus to his/her partners, read a message released at a ceremony to launch the K=K campaign.

The K=K (undetectable=incommunicable) campaign was launched by the Ho Chi Minh City Centre for HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control, the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Vietnam and the Vietnam Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS (VNP+).

The message released at the ceremony explained how a person living with HIV taking antiretroviral (ARV) therapy daily and maintaining an undetectable viral load has no risk of transferring the HIV virus to sexual partners.

Dr. John Blandford, Principal Director of the CDC Division of Global HIV/AIDS, said the message brings new hope for those who are living with HIV and their friends and family.

With access to ARV treatment, HIV-infected people can keep their viral load to an undetectable level and can live longer. They can have children and don’t have to worry about passing the virus to their partner, he said.

Meanwhile, discrimination against HIV-infected people will be reduced and eliminated due to higher public awareness of the low risk, said Balandford.

At the same time, Dr. Hoang Dinh Canh, Vice Director of the Department of HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control under the Ministry of Health, said the message is important in making those living with HIV more confident and more integrated into society.

The K=K campaign runs through September 30, 2018 with various activities such as providing the undetectable=incommunicable message to health staff and people living with HIV/AIDS, and communications targeting HIV-infected people on the need to strictly follow treatment plans.

The evidence-based campaign has been recognised by more than 700 organisations and agencies in 75 countries worldwide.