In August 1st and 2nd 2017, the delegation of the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations (VUSTA), led by Prof. ,Dr. Dang Vu Minh, VUSTA President visited and worked with community-based organizations (CBOs) in Hai Phong and Quang Ninh, supported by the Center for Supporting Community Development Initiatives (SCDI) within VUSTA Project - Global Fund to fight AIDS.
During the visit of Prof. ,Dr. Dang Vu Minh, other representatives from the VUSTA Project Management Board, the Provincial Union of Science and Technology Associations (PUSTA), the provincial Center for HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control (PAC) Ministry of SCDI center.
At the working session with the Delegation, CBOs’ self-help groups reported the activities progress in the first 6 months of 2017, the results achieved in the provision of HIV/AIDS prevention services to the target populations, who are PWID, MSM and FSW. Only for the first six months of 2017, 6,861 people in the target populations of Hai Phong and 3,059 people in Quang Ninh have benefited from the CBOs' HIV prevention program.
Photo: Prof. ,Dr. Dang Vu Minh and SCDI worked in Ha Long Xanh (Green Ha Long) Group - Ha Long city
After hearing reports on activities in two provinces, Prof. ,Dr. Dang Vu Minh highly appreciated the role and contributions of CBOs in HIV/AIDS prevention and control, acknowledged and appreciated the close coordination of CBOs with PUSTA and PAC provinces during project implementation in the provinces. Especially, Prof. ,Dr. Dang Vu Minh was very impressed with the enthusiastic participation and support from leaders and staff of PAC Hai Phong.
Photo: Prof. ,Dr. Dang Vu Minh and SCDI worked in Hai Dang (Lighthouse) Group - Hai Phong city
“I have visited many provinces, met many PAC, but perhaps the most impressive factor is the enthusiastic participation and support from Hai Phong PAC, this is very precious."
Prof. ,Dr. Dang Vu Minh
Prof. ,Dr. Dang Vu Minh also listened to CBOs who shared the advantages and disadvantages of implementing local project activities. Some of the main difficulties encountered by CBOs include: access to opiate addiction treatment with Methadone (in Ha Long city, Quang Ninh due to MMT centers overload), health insurance issue for ARV dueto lack or absence of residency documents or identity cards, etc.
Prof. ,Dr. Dang Vu Minh has asked the VUSTA and SCDI Project Management Board to focus on solving the difficulties that CBOs are facing in order to improve group activities and make the project more effective.
Thanh Trưng
Translation: Vân Anh
