ASSESSMENT OF FOREIGN POLICY IMPLICATIONS OF A PROPOSED

UNCLAS HANOI 002010 SIPDIS NIH FOR KEVIN BIALY DEPT ALSO FOR EAP/BCLTV E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: TBIO OSCI KSCA VM HIV AIDS SUBJECT: ASSESSMENT OF FOREIGN POLICY IMPLICATIONS OF A PROPOSED DOMESTIC RESEARCH GRANT NO. 1 R03 AI052471-01 DIRECTLY TO A FOREIGN INSTITUTION. REF: UNCLAS SECSTATE 128907 ¶1. THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH'S (NIH) PROPOSED SUPPORT FOR A RESEARCH GRANT ON "GENDER RELATIONS, SEXUAL BEHAVIORS, AND PERCEIVED HIV RISK AMONG VIETNAMESE ADOLESCENTS AND YOUNG ADULTS" UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 02 HANOI 02010 140644Z WILL ONLY SERVE TO STRENGTHEN THE USG'S COMMITMENT IN ASSISTING VIETNAM IN PREVENTING THE FURTHER SPREAD OF HIV INFECTIONS, AS WELL AS STRENGTHENING FOREIGN RELATIONS WITH THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT AND ITS PEOPLE. OBJECTIVES PROPOSED BY KHANH HOA PROVINCE FOR THIS RESEARCH PROJECT COMPLIMENTS THE ACTIVITIES SUPPORTED BY CDC UNDER THE GLOBAL AIDS PROGRAM, AND AS SUCH, THE MISSION FULLY SUPPORTS THE FUNDING OF THIS PROPOSAL. ¶2. HIV/AIDS IN VIETNAM HAS RAPIDLY INCREASED OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS. ALTHOUGH CURRENTLY HIV IN VIETNAM IS STILL LARGELY IN HIGH-RISK GROUPS INCLUDING IDU AND CSW AND REMAINS LOW IN THE GENERAL POPULATION, THE EXPLOSIVE EPIDEMICS IN THAILAND AND CAMBODIA PRESENT A THREAT TO THE LOW NUMBER OF INFECTIONS IN VIETNAM. CDC'S GLOBAL AIDS PROGRAM IS ONE THE LARGEST OF SEVERAL USG PROGRAMS WORKING COOPERATIVELY IN VIETNAM TO HELP PREVENT THE EPIDEMIC IN VIETNAM FROM BECOMING LIKE THAT OF THAILAND OR CAMBODIA. THE U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT (USAID) AND THE US DEPARTMENT OF LABOR ARE ALSO SUPPORTING HIV PREVENTION PROGRAMS IN VIETNAM, WORKING WITH INTERNATIONAL AND LOCAL NGO'S AND VIETNAM'S MINISTRIES OF HEALTH AND LABOR IN DEVELOPING HIV INTERVENTIONS TARGETING HIGH-RISK POPULATIONS, PROGRAMS AIMED AT REDUCING STIGMA AND DISCRIMINATION IN THE WORKPLACE, AND OPERATIONAL RESEARCH AND ASSESSMENTS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND AND DEVELOP PROGRAMS TARGETING HIGH RISK POPULATIONS. ¶3. OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, CDC WILL WORK CLOSELY WITH THE VIETNAM GAP-LIFE REPRESENTATIVE OFFICE (MOH'S OPERATIONAL ARM FOR THIS COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT) IN CONDUCTING PROVINCIAL SITUATIONAL AND NEEDS ASSESSMENTS, DEVELOPING INTEGRATED VCT SYSTEMS IN THE 40 PROVINCES WITH THE HIGHEST HIV PREVALENCE, EXPANDING AND STRENGTHENING HIV/STD/TB SURVEILLANCE SYSTEMS, AND PROVIDING UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 03 HANOI 02010 140644Z TRAINING TO STRENGTHEN THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS OF HEALTH PROFESSIONALS FOR BETTER CARE AND SUPPORT OF PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV OR THOSE WHO ARE AT HIGH RISK FOR CONTACTING THE DISEASE. ¶4. THIS RESEARCH PROJECT WILL PROVIDE FURTHER INSIGHT INTO THE SPECIFIC HIV RISK BEHAVIORS OF YOUNG PEOPLE AND WILL IN TURN HELP THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT TO BETTER DEVELOP PROGRAMS THAT WOULD SPECIFICALLY ADDRESS THE HIV PREVENTION NEEDS OF THIS VULNERABLE GROUP. A RESEARCH PROJECT SUPPORTED BY NIH WILL BE RECOGNIZED BY THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITIES AND WILL FURTHER STRENGTHEN USG PROGRAMS AND POLICIES ABROAD. ¶5. CDC/GAP - HANOI WILL PROVIDE SUPPORT AS APPROPRIATE TO NIH AND KHANH HOA PROVINCIAL HEALTH SERVICE TO COORDINATE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS RESEARCH PROJECT SHOULD NIH DECIDE TO FUND THIS PROPOSAL. PORTER UNCLASSIFIED