Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS

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General Information

Donor(s): The Global Fund

Period: 2021 - 2023

Location: Hai Phong, Quang Ninh, Ninh Binh, Thai Binh, Nghe An

Implementer: Harm Reduction and Addiction Treatment Program

The GF-HIV project aims to strengthen and enhance the effective participation of social organizations and community-based organizations (CBOs) in reducing new infections and providing comprehensive healthcare services to key populations including people who inject drugs, female sex workers, Men who have sex with men – MSM and Transgender women. This contributes to the National Strategy to End AIDS by 2030. In 2021, COVID-19 pandemic outbreak in Vietnam posed significant challenges, affecting efforts in the fight against HIV/AIDS. In 2023, SCDI continued to implement both the traditional and CHEER models (Community-based HIV Epidemiology Evaluation and Response) to assess the epidemiological situation among target groups, thereby identifying intervention scenarios based on the survey results. The primary prevention service packages provided by the project included:

Providing access, communication, and counselling on HIV and HIV prevention measures, post-exposure management, sexually transmitted infections (STIs); Drug harm reduction; Sharing knowledge about Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), thereby raising awareness to prevent and reduce risk for clients;
Providing harm reduction commodities, including syringes, distilled water, condoms, and lubricants and guiding clients on the proper use of these items;
Referring clients to essential services: HIV screening tests, ARV treatment, referrals for STIs examination and treatment, methadone treatment, Tuberculosis screening and treatment, mental health intervention support, etc.

Project clients were also connected to other healthcare services based on their needs, health insurance cards, food packages during and after COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, CBOs involved in implementing the project’s interventions also received capacity building through workshop and training sessions, which enabled them to master and leverage their knowledge, skills and roles. Furthermore, the project organized activities to promote close collaboration with local partners to improve access to healthcare services for clients in the most convenient manner, especially after the impact of COVID-19 pandemic.

2023 Key results

By the end of 2023, the GF HIV project had reached 13,160 clients, each of whom received at least one key HIV prevention service. The project referred 11,063 clients for HIV testing and identified 129 individuals with HIV-positive status, all of them were supported in accessing treatment.