21-7-2023 (HANOI) About 33 percent of new HIV infections in Vietnam were detected in young high-risk populations, surpassing the global average of 27 percent, according to a report from UNAIDS 2023 HIV Estimates cited by local media on Thursday.
Vietnam finds itself among the ranks of seven countries with a higher proportion of young individuals among the total number of new HIV infections, outpacing both the regional and global averages. These countries include Myanmar (53 percent), Indonesia (48 percent), Thailand and the Philippines (47 percent), Cambodia (43 percent), and Laos (42 percent), as reported by the local newspaper Vietnam News.
Amidst this concerning data, there is a silver lining. The rate of new infections does not seem to be showing an upward trend, as noted by a UNAIDS Asia Pacific representative quoted by the newspaper.
To combat the spread of HIV and work towards the National Strategy to End AIDS by 2030, Vietnam has set a target of ensuring that 90 percent of all people living with HIV are diagnosed by the year 2025.
The country’s efforts in 2022 have earned praise for a significant increase in the utilization of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), a preventive treatment for HIV. Notably, approximately 51,493 individuals received PrEP at least once in 2022, marking a remarkable 59 percent rise from the figures recorded in 2021. This preventive approach is regarded as a pivotal strategy in curbing the sexual transmission of the virus.
In conclusion, while Vietnam faces a higher percentage of new HIV infections in its young high-risk populations than the global average, there are encouraging signs of containment and proactive measures to combat the epidemic. The government’s commitment to achieving the National Strategy’s goals and the growing adoption of PrEP bring hope for a healthier future for the nation.
