M For M shop located in HCM City’s Tan Phu district, one of the first six shops with health services for HIV prevention and treatment, is being piloted under the community one-stop-shop model called DOME. (Photo courtesy of LIFE)HCM City (VNA) – More than 60,200 people living with nationwide
have been provided with (PrEP) service over the last
five years, helping to better control HIV infections in the community.
Phan Thi Thu Huong, head of the
(VAAC), said that at a workshop on reviewing the PrEP programme for HIV
prevention held in Ho Chi Minh City on October 26.
Since 2017, providing PrEP service has been expanded in 29 provinces and cities
across the country, with 206 service providers, of which 49 are private.
About 80 per cent of the people using PrEP in the country are men having sex
with men (MSM). And 7% of PrEP customers are young people aged 20-34.
“This is considered as one of the effective measures to help curb the increase
in HIV/AIDS infections in the MSM community,” she said.
Many models and initiatives in consulting, approaching, introducing and
providing PrEP services have been deployed across the country such as PrEP
provided directly at public health facilities and public outpatient and private
clinics, one-stop shop health services, and mobile PrEP services.
“Diversified models make conveniences in access to use the service, especially
for young customers, helping to reduce stigma and discrimination towards people
living with HIV,” she said.
They are also providing comprehensive HIV/AIDS prevention services, especially
to vulnerable and high-risk groups, contributing to the control goals outlined
in the National Strategy to End AIDS by 2030, she said.
The strategy aims to boost coverage of HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment
services for key population groups, and have 72,000 customers receiving PrEP
services by the end of 2025.
However, there are still shortcomings and difficulties that require more
drastic solutions in the coming time, she said.
Among them, raising awareness about PrEP among target groups, and opening
services in provinces and cities with high infection rates among MSM are
needed.
It also needs to create better connections between community-based
organisations and PrEP providers.
Recently, the remote PrEP service delivery model (Tele PrEP) has been approved
by the Ministry of Health to be piloted in 20 health facilities in seven
provinces and cities.
Towards providing fast and convenient services, Tele PrEP is appropriate and
confidential for customers at high risk of HIV infection, especially young
customers.
It also opens up opportunities to access PrEP services for customers living and
working in provinces without PrEP providers.
According to VAAC, the number of new HIV infections is increasing among MSM.
Every year there are about 10,000 – 13,000 new HIV cases, mainly young people
aged 20 to under 40.
Research results of Hanoi Medical University showed that if there is no
prevention measure, seven out of 100 people who are MSM will be infected with
HIV each year./.
Source: VietnamPlus
