A review of HIV prevention in Viet Nam

Viet Nam demonstrates continued commitment to meet the ambitious Fast-Track Targets of 90-90-90 by 2020 and the end of AIDS as a public health issue, as part of the Sustainable Development Goals. In order to achieve these goals and to reach epidemic control, it is essential that continued focus be given to reducing new infections. Prevention remains an essential component of Viet Nam’s national HIV response. Evidence and efforts from within Viet Nam and globally show that HIV prevention saves lives and money. It is a sound, cost-effective and humane investment. Strong steps have been taken to harness the benefits of treatment as prevention; there remains, however, a need to explore both traditional and innovative prevention interventions to respond to the evolving epidemic and rapidly changing behaviours.

In order to be effective, scale up of prevention programming, at a sufficient scale and intensity, needs to be adequately funded. It is likely that Viet Nam will see a significant decrease in external funding for HIV response after 2020: new funding sources need to be identified for prevention programming. This will include mobilising increased local and national budget, as well as exploring opportunities for public-private partnerships and engaging national and/or international philanthropists. The introduction of diverse modalities for effective service delivery, such as social contracting/ public investment through community-based organisations for community-led prevention services is an essential component of enabling prevention programming scale-up.

 

It is hoped that this review will contribute to leverage and guide the revitalization and optimization of HIV prevention as a full part of Viet Nam’s efforts to fast track progress, reduce and further monitor programmatic, geographical gaps to leave no one behind and achieve its national goals by 2020 and  2030.