Hai Duong controls HIV from the "K=K" campaign

Minimize the risk of infection

Mr. Vu Van Nghiem, an officer of the Planning Department of Hai Duong Tropical Diseases Hospital, said that "K=K" is an abbreviation for the message "Undetected = Untransmitted". This message has been concretized by Hai Duong through a campaign of the same name, which has been strongly implemented since 2020. The solution is to increase the rate of people with HIV, high-risk groups using ARV drugs regularly to reduce the viral load in the body to a safe level, minimizing the risk of infection.

Hai Duong Tropical Diseases Hospital has proactively coordinated with relevant agencies and units to promote the "K = K" campaign in many forms. Developing outpatient clinics located at the Medical Centers of Cam Giang, Kim Thanh districts, Chi Linh city, Kinh Mon town and Hoang Tien Prison to help patients and people at high risk of HIV infection easily access examination services, viral load monitoring, and timely treatment intervention consultation. Expanding peer advocacy groups in the community to help high-risk cases confidently access testing consultation services. Maintaining effective implementation of prevention intervention programs, testing monitoring, improving treatment quality... In recent years, the rate of HIV-infected patients in Hai Duong participating in the ARV treatment program has always been above 90%, some years reaching 97-98%, exceeding the national target of 90%.

Dr. Vu Tien Vuong, Head of the Examination Department of Hai Duong Tropical Diseases Hospital, said that ARV drugs have been used since 2005. The “K=K” campaign has contributed to the increasing rate of patients using this drug. Many patients comply with taking the drug, thereby increasing their immunity, minimizing the risk of infecting others and contracting opportunistic infections. “There are patients with HIV who have been healthy for 16 years. There are mothers with HIV who do not transmit the virus to their children… Testing consultation, improving treatment capacity, and especially expanding the number of people using ARV drugs have brought about these results,” said Dr. Vuong.

Mr. H. - a patient in Hai Duong city with HIV who has participated in ARV treatment shared: "I am completely healthy, my viral load is always below the safe level, and my quality of life has improved a lot."

The "K=K" campaign has helped HIV/AIDS prevention in Hai Duong in recent years have positive changes as the number of new infections is decreasing year by year. From the beginning of the year to the end of September, the whole province recorded nearly 44 new HIV cases, a decrease of 13 cases compared to 2022.

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Director of Hai Duong Tropical Diseases Hospital Nguyen Van Hai said the “K=K” campaign has been helping Hai Duong confidently work with the whole country towards the goal of ending AIDS by 2030.

The number of new HIV infections is decreasing year by year, which is a positive sign. However, the province should not be complacent or negligent. Currently, the group at risk of HIV infection is shifting from female prostitutes and drug addicts to homosexuals. Accessing and implementing infection prevention measures for this group is not easy when society is still quite stigmatizing, making them not bold enough to go to medical facilities for risk assessment and screening. “We recently discovered a 17-year-old student infected with HIV. This person has homosexual relations. In reality, there are many people in society who have homosexual relations. This is a risk that could threaten the above goal. Therefore, we must not be complacent,” Mr. Hai emphasized.

To limit the risk of increasing the number of HIV infections from target groups, especially homosexual groups, from 2022 to present, Hai Duong Tropical Diseases Hospital has promoted online testing services. People at high risk who are afraid to go to medical facilities only need to visit the website: https//tuxetnghiem.vn and enter information according to the instructions. The hospital will send free rapid tests (by saliva) to the homes of those in need. After testing, those in need continue to enter the results on the above website according to the instructions. Based on this, doctors will assess the risk, advise, and treat promptly. From 2022 to present, Hai Duong has had nearly 500 people using this service. This new approach is expected to make an important contribution to implementing the HIV/AIDS prevention strategy.

In the coming time, Hai Duong Tropical Diseases Hospital will continue to diversify propaganda activities about the "K = K" campaign. Focus on expanding peer propaganda groups. Maintain and enhance 4 key programs in HIV infection prevention: preventive intervention, testing monitoring, improving treatment quality, and enhancing international cooperation capacity.

From 2021, the Central Government will no longer provide funding for HIV/AIDS prevention activities for localities, but instead request that provinces and cities carry them out themselves. The hospital hopes that the province will soon pay attention and support to resolve this difficulty so that the campaign to prevent the disease of the century will bring more and more positive results.