Promoting the role and contributions of the National Network of Women Living with HIV

On November 24, in Hanoi, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) in Vietnam, in collaboration with the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) in Vietnam and the Center for Women and Development, organized the program "Event in response to World AIDS Day 2023 with the National Network of Women Living with HIV".

Quang Nam aims to end AIDS epidemic by 2030
HIV screening for drug addicts at the facility

According to Ms. Caroline Nyamayemombe, Acting Head of UN Women Vietnam Office, the theme of World AIDS Day and National Action Month on HIV/AIDS this year emphasizes the creative role and importance of the contributions of the community of people living with HIV, people at high risk of HIV infection and affected by HIV in the country's common efforts to control the HIV epidemic and achieve national goals of ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030, so that HIV and AIDS will no longer be a threat to public health.

Ms. Caroline Nyamayemombe, Acting Head of UN Women Vietnam Office, spoke.

Data reported by Vietnam's HIV prevention and control program in recent years shows that the HIV epidemic among men who have sex with men and transgender women is increasing.

Sexual transmission of HIV accounts for more than 80% of all new HIV infections detected in 2021-2023, of which the group of wives and sexual partners of men living with HIV and men with high-risk behaviors for HIV infection accounts for a significant number.

The number of newly diagnosed HIV infections is getting younger, with young people aged 16-29 accounting for about 50%. The program to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV also faces many challenges, with HIV treatment coverage for pregnant women living with HIV decreasing since 2020.

Discussions at this event contributed to gathering recommendations from all stakeholders, to identify necessary actions in the coming time, to further strengthen the role and contributions of the National Network of Women Living with HIV.

Young women, particularly those in high-risk groups, continue to be disproportionately affected by a lack of knowledge and understanding of HIV. Specifically, less than 50% of women aged 15-49 have a comprehensive and accurate understanding of HIV prevention, and this rate is much lower among women aged 15-24. Nearly a quarter of transgender women report experiencing stigma in their community related to their HIV status.

Visit the booth of women representing the National Network of Vulnerable Women

Discussions with experts and in-depth discussions within the National Network of Women Living with HIV at this event contributed to collecting recommendations from all stakeholders, to identify necessary actions in the coming time, to further promote the role and contributions of the National Network of Women Living with HIV, towards the goal of leaving no woman behind in the efforts to implement Vietnam's Sustainable Development Goals, including the goal of ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030 and the goal of Gender Equality.

Viet Cuong

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