Taking one pill a day can reduce the risk of HIV infection by 92%

Vietnam Ministry of Health, United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and PATH, a global health non-governmental organization have announced the launch of national pre-exposure HIV (PrEP) services. .

Pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV (PrEP) is a service that helps people who are not HIV-infected but at high risk to prevent HIV infection by taking one tablet a day as part of the HIV prevention strategy. well suited.

When a person is exposed to HIV, this precautionary measure prevents the virus from developing into a permanent infection.

Deploying HIV prevention service (PrEP) nationwide.

PrEP is extremely effective if used correctly and can reduce the risk of HIV infection by up to 92% or higher. The expansion of PrEP service is necessary for Vietnam to drastically reduce the number of new infections.

'We are very proud that Vietnam is the second country in Asia, behind Thailand only, to launch PrEP services nationwide.

PrEP service will be deployed in 11 provinces by 2020. With the goal of reaching 7,300 people to register for the service, we look forward to providing this service to all those in need nationwide " - Dr. Nguyen Hoang Long, Director of the Department of HIV / AIDS Prevention and Control (VAAC), said.

VAAC, USAID and PATH organization piloted PrEP services from June 2017 through the USAID Market Growth Promotion project implemented by PATH. The project has worked with community groups of people at high risk of HIV infection, provincial health leaders, private sector partners, public and private outpatient clinics to provide services. PrEP for 1,895 people at risk of HIV infection in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi.

These include men who have sex with men, transgender women and HIV-negative people but who are partners / spouses of HIV-infected people who have not reached the viral load below the inhibitory threshold. PrEP services are also provided through a UNAIDS pilot project.