The meeting to mark World AIDS Day and in response to Vietnam’s Action Month against HIV/AIDS takes place in the northern province of Bac Ninh on November 26, 2022. (Photo: baophapluat.vn)

Vietnam has detected more than 13,000 new HIV infections, mostly among young people, each year over the past 2 years. Half of the number of HIV carriers in Vietnam are people under 29. Unsafe sex is leading cause of HIV transmission in Vietnam.

“The national strategy to end AIDS sets the 95-95-95 targets: 95% of people living with HIV know their HIV status; 95% of people who know their status are on antiretroviral treatment; and among those treated, 95% to have a suppressed viral load and reduced likelihood of passing on the virus,” said Health Minister Dao Hong Lan at the meeting.  

“There are still a lot to do to  achieve the national strategy’s goal. The HIV epidemic will likely reemerge if we lose steam in this battle.”

According to the Joint UN Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), 90% of people on ARV treatment in Vietnam are covered by health insurance and more than 95% of those treated have a suppressed viral load.