US Ambassador Ted Osius and other participants
demonstrate how to take the HIV self-test yesterday (August 26) in Việt Nam . —
Photo Thu Hằng
HCM CITY
— The Ministry of Health (MoH), the US Embassy and HIV community groups
yesterday launched the first-ever HIV self-testing services in Việt Nam.
More than
200,000 people have been diagnosed with HIV infection, with 110,000 people receiving antiretroviral therapy, said Nguyễn
Hoàng Long, director of the Việt Nam Administration for HIV/AIDS Control.
“HIV
self-testing is the next step in increasing access to HIV testing, and
normalising it as other over-the-counter rapid tests do (e.g., for diabetes or
pregnancy),” he said.
“It can
help Việt Nam achieve 90-90-90 goals by reaching the yet unreached individuals
and enrolling those that have HIV into treatment services,” Long said.
The
90-90-90 goals say that by 2020, 90 per cent of all people living with HIV will
know their HIV status; 90 per cent of all people with diagnosed HIV infection
will receive sustained antiretroviral therapy; and 90 per cent of all people
receiving antiretroviral therapy will have viral suppression.
Since
October 2015, the Healthy Markets project, supported by the US President’s
Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) through the US Agency for International
Development (USAID) and implemented by PATH, has collaborated with the Ministry
of Health to introduce community-based HIV testing options for key populations,
including HIV self-testing.
“Now, our
Vietnamese and American partnership is launching HIV self-testing, which puts
testing directly in the hands of the individuals. HIV testing has never been as
simple as it is with a self-test. Anyone at risk can learn their HIV status
confidentially, privately, and in a safe way,” said Ted Osius, US Ambassador to
Việt Nam.
No comments:
Post a Comment