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Friday, 20 November, was a big day in Hanoi. It was the day that the Vietnamese Government officially recognised VNP+, the Vietnamese Network of People Living with HIV. Rob Lake reports.
Vietnam, a country of 86 million people, is estimated to have about 290,000 people with HIV in the country’s 63 provinces. HIV is most significant in Bac Giang and Hai Duong in the north and Ho Chi Minh in the south.
In Vietnam, as in many developing countries, people with HIV can access only first-line HIV medicines. For people who are resistant to these drugs, access to a broader range of medications is critical. Positive people with fewer than 200 T cells can get these drugs through the government. Otherwise, they must be bought, which is an expensive task.
Much of the HIV support work in Vietnam occurs through local positive clubs. These networks are spread across Vietnam, some public, but many are private. It is through these clubs that positive people are able to meet and talk with other people with HIV and access health information, support and HIV medicines.
Rob Lake met with VNP+ Co-Chair Hung Pham Quoc, just before the organisation was to be presented with its accreditation. He advised that the issues for people with HIV in Vietnam were mostly about getting access to second-line drugs, as well as being able to access HIV medicines earlier. For many people on medication, the focus has become returning to work and earning an income. At the same time, he spoke about issues of discrimination, the differing issues in various parts of Vietnam and the importance of understanding and meeting the needs of women with HIV.
VNP+ has been in operation for 6 years and during this time, it has achieved great things, both in local support for people with HIV across Vietnam and in being recognised by the Vietnamese Government, which is a major achievement. The government agreed to the recognition at this year’s International Conference on HIV/AIDS in the Asia-Pacific (ICAAP) in Bali.
The organisation was officially launched on 24 November with the support of the Joint UN Team on HIV in Vietnam. VNP+ is mandated to provide training and create job opportunities for people living with HIV and those affected by HIV, conduct information and communication activities on HIV/AIDS and promote research and prevention, care and treatment programs.
“The network will act to empower those living with and affected by HIV to overcome stigma and discrimination and contribute to the national response,” stated VNP+ representative Do Dang Dong. He added, “We look forward to a close partnership with the government, other civil society and with international organisations to best perform our role.”
In Australia, Australian People for Health, Education and Development Abroad (APHEDA) has been supporting local positive clubs as well as VNP+.
If you are interested in finding out more, contact Rob Lake at Positive Life, robl@positivelife.org.au [5] or 02 9361 6011.
Photo by Rob Lake.