In an effort to realize the goal of ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030, the Hai Phong City People's Committee has officially issued a decision approving the grant for the project "HIV/AIDS Prevention, Care and Treatment in Hai Phong" funded by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), USA. This is a significant step in mobilizing international resources to protect and improve the health of the city's residents.
International Resources for Public Health
The project has a total non-refundable aid budget of 2.173 billion VND (approximately 83,594 USD). It will be implemented over 03 years (2026-2028) without requiring local counterpart funding. This aid package includes both cash (over 2 billion VND) and in-kind contributions, such as condoms, testing reagents, and medications for opportunistic infections, valued at over 140 million VND.
The Hai Phong Center for Disease Control (CDC) has been assigned as the project owner, responsible for direct coordination with the donor to implement specialized activities.
Strategic Goals and Core Activities
The core objective of the project is to support Hai Phong in achieving the 95-95-95 targets (95% of people living with HIV knowing their status, 95% of those diagnosed receiving ARV treatment, and 95% of those on treatment achieving viral suppression). The project focuses on high-risk groups, including people who inject drugs, female sex workers, and men who have sex with men.
Key activities include: (1) Testing and Counseling: An estimated 420-500 people will receive counseling and testing annually, ensuring over 90% of positive cases are linked to care and treatment; (2) Prevention Supplies: Free distribution of approximately 15,000 condoms per year at designated hotspots; (3) Treatment Support: Providing HIV antiretroviral drugs, testing for sexually transmitted infections (specifically Syphilis), and medical supplies at treatment facilities; (4) Capacity Building: Organizing training courses and workshops for healthcare staff and collaborators on HIV patient care and treatment.
Implementation will be concentrated at key units: The Thuy Nguyen Health Center, Drug Rehabilitation Center No. 1, and Drug Rehabilitation Center No. 2.
Practical Significance and Importance
The approval of this project holds great significance for the city in several aspects:
Firstly, Health and Social Impact: The project contributes to epidemic control, reducing new infections and AIDS-related deaths while improving the quality of life for people living with HIV in Hai Phong. Accessing services at specialized facilities like rehabilitation centers helps control the risk of community transmission more comprehensively.
Secondly, Financial Benefits: The grant from the AHF helps significantly reduce the expenditure pressure on the state budget and the health insurance fund. These funds not only supplement medical supplies but also support operational costs for personnel directly involved in counseling and patient management, enhancing the efficiency of public resource utilization.
Thirdly, Foreign Affairs: Collaborating with the AHF—a prestigious international non-governmental organization from the United States—affirms Hai Phong's open and transparent environment for cooperation. This aligns with the city's "Program to Strengthen Cooperation and Mobilize Foreign Non-Governmental Aid" through 2030, creating a foundation to attract further international resources for health and social welfare.
To ensure the highest efficiency, the City People's Committee has directed the Department of Finance to guide the Hai Phong CDC in financial management according to legal regulations. The partnership with the AHF over the next three years is expected to create positive changes, moving Hai Phong closer to the milestone of ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030 in accordance with the national strategy.