HIV/AIDS: AMBASSADOR HANDS OVER FY 2007 VIETNAM OPERATIONAL

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 HANOI 000912 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KHIV TBIO PREL PGOV VM SUBJECT: HIV/AIDS: AMBASSADOR HANDS OVER FY 2007 VIETNAM OPERATIONAL PLAN TO GVN ¶1. (SBU) Summary: On May 9, the Ambassador formally presented to Minister of HEALTH Tran Thi Trung Chien the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) Vietnam Operational Plan for fiscal year 2007. The Ambassador urged greater GVN coordination to ensure that HIV-positive individuals residing in "06 centers" (camps for former intravenous drug users) have access to comprehensive HIV services; expressed hope that the collaborative development of the methadone program moves forward; and, expressed appreciation for GVN efforts under the new HIV/AIDS law to address issues related to stigma and discrimination, cautioning that much work remains to be done in this area. Minister Chien responded that the MOH will soon submit a methadone treatment plan to Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dzung for his consideration and agreed with the Ambassador on the importance of reducing stigma. End Summary. Handing Over the Plan -------------- ¶2. (SBU) On May 9, the Ambassador formally presented to Minister of Health Tran Thi Trung Chien and her colleagues the PEPFAR Country Operational Plan for fiscal year 2007. The plan calls for improved counseling, testing and treatment of those suffering from HIV/AIDS as well as stepped up efforts to prevent the disease's spread. Counseling and Testing Services -------------- ¶4. (SBU) In his remarks to those assembled at the ceremony, the Ambassador highlighted how the plan addresses these areas. For one, access to quality counseling and testing services is limited throughout Vietnam in part due to the lack of availability of same day, rapid testing for HIV diagnosis. PEPFAR is working with the Ministry of HEALTH (MOH) on rectifying this, and the Ambassador urged Minister Chien to support the approval of rapid testing for HIV diagnosis in Vietnam. (Note: Currently, most Vietnamese who go for HIV testing have to wait days before they get results back. For its part, the MOH reportedly has hesitated to approve rapid HIV diagnostic testing because of anecdotal reports that, following false positive diagnosis, some patients have suffered physical abuse at home. End Note.) PEPFAR is also helping the MOH to provide HIV counseling and testing services, as well as working with the ministry to develop the necessary technical and legal documents, including national guidelines, and a national training curriculum, the Ambassador added. These processes are important to ensure development of standardized national procedures for all programs, regardless of the source of support. ¶5. (SBU) The Ambassador urged the MOH to assist the Ministry of Labor, War Invalid and Social Affairs (MOLISA) and the Voluntary Youth Force to collaborate more closely on ensuring that HIV-positive individuals residing in '06 centers have access to comprehensive HIV services, including antiretroviral treatment. This includes ensuring that patients who have started treatment in the community continue to have access once they enter the '06 centers. Treatment of PLWHA -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Turning to the subject of treatment, the Ambassador said the operational plan contains ideas for innovative collaboration between PEPFAR and the Global Fund. During last year's operational planning, PEPFAR and Global Fund representatives in Vietnam negotiated an agreement whereby each donor funds specific services that combine to form a well-planned package of comprehensive services in 11 provinces. This model would make optimal use of donor resources to provide higher quality, more comprehensive services to more people in more provinces than either program could do alone, the Ambassador told his MOH counterparts. ¶7. (SBU) PEPFAR is doubling our financial support for treatment of HIV/AIDS, with over USD 21 million allocated for the treatment program, nearly USD 10 million of which will be used to purchase, import, distribute and effectively manage storage of antiretroviral drugs, the Ambassador noted. PEPFAR is committed to support the GVN's goal of providing treatment for 70 percent of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in need by 2010, the Ambassador added. In addition, the plan provides for an expansion of pediatric treatment to at least 1,200 children by the end of this fiscal year in collaboration with other organizations, such as the Clinton Foundation. To achieve this goal, the capacity for early infant diagnostic testing in Vietnam must be expanded as soon as possible. This standard of care, used worldwide, will save children's lives by allowing for earlier care and treatment of those infected with HIV, the Ambassador said. ¶8. (SBU) The 2007 plan provides increased funding for care of persons infected with both HIV and tuberculosis in PEPFAR focus provinces and expansion of services that aim to prevent mother to child transmission in the highest prevalence provinces in Vietnam, HANOI 00000912 002 OF 003 the Ambassador continued. On methadone treatment plans, our hope is that the collaborative development of the methadone program moves forward so that by the fall, we can start the first person on the treatment program. The Ambassador told Minister Chien that we see this program as a crucial milestone for the HIV program in Vietnam and are pleased to be a part of this groundbreaking work because it will help bring down drug addiction rates and, in turn, HIV infection rates. Minister Chien responded that the MOH will soon submit a methadone plan to Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dzung for his approval. Prevention -------------- ¶9. (SBU) Since the HIV epidemic in Vietnam remains largely concentrated among "most at risk" populations, effective HIV prevention through community-based outreach, programs for youth and successful substance abuse treatment remain critical to the control of HIV/AIDS in Vietnam, the Ambassador said. ¶10. (SBU) The PEPFAR team in Vietnam remains committed to ensuring that HIV prevention outreach not only raises awareness, but results in actual behavior change, he stressed. The team is working with Boston University to launch an evaluation of PEPFAR-supported outreach in six focus provinces. The information from this evaluation will help strengthen PEPFAR-supported peer outreach programs in Vietnam, ensuring behavior change for more "most at risk" populations. ¶11. (SBU) Multiple sources indicate that clients of commercial sex workers comprise the greatest number of new HIV cases in Vietnam, the Ambassador continued. To lessen potential for such a shift in the epidemic, PEPFAR remains committed to working with local and international partners to reduce potential clients' risky behavior. This summer, multiple HEALTH and development agencies will launch integrated behavior change communication programs targeting potential clients. This work will stress the importance of men avoiding risky behaviors, yet will not add to the considerable stigma already applied to commercial sex workers. Stigma and Discrimination and Administrative Costs -------------- -------------- ¶12. (SBU) The Ambassador relayed the USG's appreciation for GVN efforts under the new HIV/AIDS law to address issues related to stigma and discrimination. He pointed out that we presently support two legal clinics to assist HIV/AIDS sufferers with legal services and are looking to expand these services in fiscal year 2007. Minister Chien concurred that much work remains to lessen stigmas associated with HIV/AIDS. ¶13. (SBU) The Ambassador congratulated Minister Chien for the GVN's success in bringing the various ministries involved in the fight against HIV/AIDS together. The "road to success" lies in improving coordination between the GVN and donors and among the donors. On administrative costs associated with the fight against HIV/AIDS, the Ambassador stated that the PEPFAR program is working hard to reduce the USG's administrative costs for the program in Vietnam, and that in this plan these costs are 11.5 percent of overall expenditures; PEFPAR Vietnam's aim is to decrease administrative costs to under ten percent in fiscal year 2007. Minister Chien responded that she appreciated these efforts. ¶14. (U) After the event, the Embassy released a press statement that received good local coverage. Full text of this statement follows in paragraph 15. ¶15. (U) Begin Text. "US Provides $59 million To Support Vietnam's Efforts to Counter HIV/AIDS" In a ceremony at the Ministry of HEALTH this afternoon, Ambassador Michael W. Marine presented the 2007 Country Operational Plan (COP) to Minister Chien in support of the Government of Vietnam's HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment efforts. In his remarks, Ambassador Marine renewed the commitment of the United States to work as Vietnam's partner in fighting this dreaded disease. "The bilateral relationship and myriad areas of cooperation our two countries share are enhanced by our partnership in battling the terrible disease of HIV/AIDS and its many consequences," the Ambassador said. The 2007 annual plan lays out how we will spend 59 million dollars to carry out a joint U.S. and Government of Vietnam vision to support prevention, care and treatment. The activities described in the plan have been developed in coordination with the Ministry of Health and other partners to provide support for priority programs of action within the Vietnam National Strategy for HIV and AIDS Control. To strengthen HIV prevention programs, the Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator has also approved more than $1,000,000 in HANOI 00000912 003 OF 003 additional 2007 funds that will be used to support different partners to expand outreach efforts, train more Vietnamese drug abuse counselors and support programs for youth. End Text. MARINE