Building up

General Information

Fullname: Strengthen New Community-Based Interventions to Control HIV Infection Among Young People Who Use Drugs in Vietnam

Donor(s): Pierre Nicole Centre, France

Period: 1/2024 - 6/2025

Location: Hanoi, Hai Phong, Ninh Binh, Thai Binh, Nghe An, Quang Ninh, Ho Chi Minh city

Implementer: Children and Youth program

The Building Up project builds upon the foundation of the Saving the Future 2.0 initiative—a community-based intervention to control HIV infection among young people who use drugs in Vietnam. Beyond HIV prevention and harm reduction related to substance use, Saving the Future 2.0 also identified and began addressing core issues such as mental health and adverse childhood experiences. Building Up continues to deliver comprehensive interventions for young people previously supported under Saving the Future, while expanding and deepening community based mental health care, to effectively and sustainably prevent and control HIV.

2024 Key results

In 2024, the project reached and provided basic HIV prevention services to 1,198 clients. Among them, 322 individuals were tested for HIV, with 8 positive cases identified and supported for ARV enrollment. Additionally, 1,051 clients received harm reduction counseling, 92 were referred for STIs testing and treatment, PrEP, and 100 participated in interventions addressing adverse childhood experiences through Mindfulness Healing Circles and Art&Play therapy.

Notably, mental health interventions became a strategic focus in 2024. A total of 814 clients received individual counseling and basic mental health information. Among them, 169 were referred to specialized healthcare facilities, and 105 received appropriate mental health treatment.

The project also organize a training course for psychiatrists from hospitals and clinics in 07 project provinces, aimed to sensithize psychiatrists on the specific needs of vulnerable communities, and established partnerships with psychiatric hospitals in Ninh Binh, Thai Binh, and Hai Phong city to support client referrals and provide specialized treatment.