HIV/AIDS

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The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) began supporting HIV/AIDS programs in Vietnam in the mid-1990s. In June 2004, HIV/AIDS funding to Vietnam was increased substantially under the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). Under PEPFAR, USAID works closely with other U.S. government agencies including Health and Human Services/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Defense. USAID works in collaboration with and through the Socialist Republic of Vietnam at the national, provincial, and district levels in support of goals identified in the National HIV/AIDS Strategy. Together with civil society, faith-based, nongovernmental and mass organizations, such as the Women's Union, USAID helps to deliver prevention, care and treatment services, and advocate for policies that will improve access to and the quality of HIV/AIDS services and strengthen the overall health system.

Vietnam maintains a low prevalence of HIV in the adult population at around 0.44%. An estimated 254,000 people in Vietnam are infected with HIV, and more than half of those needing anti-retroviral treatment are currently receiving it. HIV prevalence among injecting drug users is just over 20% and, in some provinces, up to 60%, and continues to drive the spread of the virus to other populations.

TARGETING AT-RISK POPULATIONS
USAID supports comprehensive HIV interventions to prevent HIV transmission among most at risk populations including injecting drug users and their partners, commercial sex workers, potential male clients of sex workers, and men who have sex with men. Clinical and home based care and treatment initiatives help to extend lives, improve health and increase quality of life for those infected and affected by HIV. USAID implements its HIV/AIDS program through 13 primary and more than 50 sub-partners. Based on epidemiology and collaboration with the host government, USAID's HIV efforts are currently directed to nine provinces: Dien Bien, Hai Phong, Hanoi, Lao Cai, and Quang Ninh in the North; Nghe An in the Central region; and An Giang, Can Tho, and Ho Chi Minh City in the South. In 2011, USAID assistance was $46 million of the total $84 million PEPFAR Vietnam budget.

KEY PEPFAR RESULTS
Since 2005 PEPFAR has supported life-saving antiretroviral treatment for about 30,000 people, and provided care to more than 8,000 orphans and vulnerable children. PEPFAR programs reached more than 59,000 people living with HIV last year alone. After the success of six PEFPAR-supported pilot methadone clinics in Hai Phong, Hanoi, and Ho Chi Minh City to treat individuals addicted to heroin, the Government of Vietnam is rolling out methadone in a sustainable way to 10 additional provinces. Vietnam was the first country to employ PEPFAR funds to support medication-assisted therapy.

MAIN USAID PARTNERS
USAID's primary implementing partners are Abt Associates, Chemonics, Family Health International 360, Royal Netherlands TB Association, Management Sciences for Health, PATH, Population Services International, Research Triangle Institute, UNAIDS, US Pharmacopeia and the World Health Organization.