The year 2015 is the last year of our 1^st Strategic Plan from 2011 to 2015. The plan was developed based on the motto of “Awakening Potentials” – focusing on advocacy, support and development of enabling environment so that marginalized populations, as well as policy makers and authorities, recognize and promote the strengths of those populations that are considered vulnerable or stigmatized. 

Our work in the past 5 years has deepened our belief in the strengths of vulnerable and marginalized populations. When working with the communities of people who use drugs, sex workers, people living with HIV, men who have sex with men, transgender people, and children of such populations, we realize that they have great hidden potential, which can be used not only to tackle their own problems, but also to contribute to the development of society. SCDI is working even harder with organizations of vulnerable and marginalized communities to create an inclusive and non-judgmental society in which every individual has opportunities to utilize their potential to participate in and contribute to all aspects of life. 

Support organizational development of target populations
SCDI acted as fiscal entity responsible for operational, accounting and technical support for 5 community networks. Members of each of the networks are local community-based organizations, ensuring the present of those who have connection with SCDI in 40 provinces in the country. 

SCDI worked with the 4 Vietnam national networks: Vietnam network of people who use drugs (VNPUD), Vietnam network of sex workers (VNSW), Vietnam network of Men who have sex with men and transgender people (VN MSM-TG), Vietnam community network on Tuberculosis control (VN TB). We also support the management and coordinate Vietnam Civil Society Partnership Platform on AIDS (VCSPA), which brings together aroung 400 community organizations of people living with HIV, people most affected by HIV, and other community groups from more than 40 provinces, since 2007. 

Pilot, implement, promote and scale up models and initiatives
The model of CBO (Community based organization) was seen as the key models under the National action plan on Prostitution prevention for 2016-2020 on harm reduction, increasing awareness on rights and laws, and reducing sexual violence against sex workers. The Government’s Renovation plan on drug treatment also mentioned the mobilization of organizations of PWUD in its implementation. 
 

CBO models played their significant role in project DRIVE-IN (Ending HIV epidemics among people who inject drugs) in advocating for and supporting to access and adhere to essential HIV services. Many CBOS, such as Friendship Arms, White Sand in Hai Phong had showed their prominent role in the project as an important partners.

The model of community-based, voluntary drug counselling and treatment first piloted in Bac Giang and started to be held in Khanh Hoa province, Ba Ria- Vung Tau province and other provinces. This model created an environment in which CBOs of PWUD can interact with other stakeholders and involve in delivering drug treatment services at the local community.
 

Furthermore, SCDI provided sexual and reproductive health/family planning (SRH/FP) services for marginalized populations. The model of SRH/FP clinic, along with mobile clinic, collaboration with local community, employers and service providers, and communication through direct and social network channels evidently increased access to such important services.

SCDI held Community training program for people who use drugs, namely “Continuous community based drug treatment” (CoCBT) and Community training program for sex workers, namely “My body, my rights” (MBMR). These programmes was implemented in CBOs and participants awared with completion certificate. 
 

 
Community overdose rescue model was implemented by Friendship Arms in Haiphong since 2010. The model was highly successful, with more than 100 overdosed people being rescued in 2015 alone.  

In 2015, in Loving Milk programme, SCDI received more than 43 tons of power milk for children from 1 to 6 years old fromDanone Vietnam. The milk was delivered to 28,050 children with disadvantaged background in 40 provinces. The program was realized with the support from the National traffic safety committee, 11 transport companies, and 110 community groups and organizations. 

SCDI organized volunteers and champions to support disadvantaged children. More than 80 children of PWUD, SW, prisoners, and poor orphaned children in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh city were supported by SCDI’s volunteers to ensure that their well-being was protected, that they could go to school, and that they were more socially integrated. The support from the program is long-term and flexible, depending on the situation of each child. It could be support to pay tuition fees and living expenses, providing tutoring, extra-curriculum activities, life-skills, summer camps, and support to acquire personal documents. 

Policy advocacy to create enabling environment for marginalized populations to improve their quality of life
Understanding that Health Insurance had becom an important financial solution in accessing to health services, especially for marginalized populations. From that point, SCDI implemented two fundamental strategies that to increase awareness of policy makers and government agencies on barriers to access to health insurance for marginalized populations and to increase knowledge of community members on health insurance.

SCDI was on the way to increase voluntary and community-based drug treatment. Therefore, SCDI continued to collaborate with Department for Social Vices Prevention, and the provinces of Bac Giang, Ba Ria – Vung Tau and Khanh Hoa to pilot and implement the model of voluntary and community-based drug treatment, as proof for the capacity to change how people with addiction problems are treated. 

SCDI focused on harm reduction and integration. SCDI collaborated with Department for Social Vices Prevention – Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs to organize several consultations with SW during the development of the Action Plan on Prostitution Prevention 2016-2020. Field visits and dialogues organized by SCDI, and CBO’s activities also contributed significantly to raise the awareness of relevant government agencies about the real situation of SW and the roles of CBO of SW.
 

In order to further the positive progress on policy for accessing to Hepatitis C treatment, in which peg-interferon treatment cost would be partly covered by health insurance, in 2015, SCDI continued to focus on 2 fundamental strategies: to increase society’s awareness on Hepatitis C and advocate for removal of barriers to access to DAAs. 

For more information, please download the ANNUAL REPORT here.