Illustrative image. (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – A ceremony to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the US
President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) took place in Hanoi on May
9.
In his remarks,
US Ambassador to Vietnam, Marc E. Knapper, said that cooperation in health
constitutes a very important basis in the relations between the two countries,
adding that Vietnam is the first and only nation in Asia to receive assistance
from PEPFAR since its establishment.
has been
the largest sponsor of Vietnam’s HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Programme,
helping the country achieve important results in the fight against HIV/AIDS,
he said.
The diplomat
went on to say that in 2021-2022, PEPFAR Vietnam provided important
techniques to assist 8,727 patients accessing Anti-retroviral (ARV) therapy and
helped maintain ARV drug use for another 89,000. In addition to treating people
living with HIV, PEPFAR’s activities focus on helping people access
comprehensive prevention services including HIV testing and counseling and
strategic communications.
US Ambassador to Vietnam, Marc E. Knapper (Photo: VNA)Speaking at the
event, US Ambassador-at-Large John N. Nkengasong, US Global AIDS Coordinator
and Special Representative for Global Health Diplomacy, highlighted the need
for greater cooperation between the two countries and ‘s intention to
accompany the Southeast Asian country in this process.
Vietnamese
Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan said that after 30 years, the country managed
to reduce the number of those infected with HIV and AIDS-related deaths. The infection rate has been kept below 0.3%.
According to the
minister, along with the Global Fund, PEPFAR is one of the largest sponsors of
the Vietnam Programme. Currently, PEPFAR is
providing in 11 locations with the largest number of people living with
HIV, representing 45.2% of the country.
he Government
of Vietnam is committed, with PEPFAR’s support, to continuing to develop
financial mechanisms for the sustainable delivery of HIV/AIDS prevention and
control services, she said.
It will
strengthen the participation of the private sector and social organisations in
the investment and provision of HIV prevention and control services to ensure
the effective use of the mobilised resources, Lan added./.
Source: VietnamPlus
