SGGPO
On the morning of August 22, the Department of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Ministry of Health officially informed about the "Black Rose" group (Do Son district, Hai Phong) taking blood samples from many students for HIV testing.
According to the HIV/AIDS Prevention Department, based on local reports, the implementation of some HIV/AIDS prevention services in the community by the “Black Rose” group is consistent with the policy stated in the National Strategy to End the AIDS Epidemic by 2030. HIV testing in the community does not pose a risk of HIV transmission from the person being tested for HIV to the person being tested for HIV.
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Some members of the "Black Rose" group practice drawing blood again. |
However, the Department of HIV/AIDS Prevention also agreed with the recommendation of the Center for Disease Control (CDC) of Hai Phong to temporarily suspend the activities of the "Black Rose" group to collect information to verify the recent incident. It is requested that the Department of Health and CDC of Hai Phong thoroughly instruct community organizations participating in HIV/AIDS prevention in the area to strictly implement legal regulations, professional procedures, and test the right subjects with risky behaviors on the principle of voluntariness.
At the same time, Hai Phong CDC is requested to advise families, parents and children who have been tested at the "Black Rose" group on information and issues that families are concerned and worried about. The Center for Supporting Community Development Initiatives (SCDI) is requested to be the project owner and the "Black Rose - Black Rainbow" group to review project procedures to ensure that community organizations are properly controlled to comply with instructions and professional regulations for community activities.
"Black Rose" is a self-help group, often referred to as a community-based organization, formed on the voluntary basis of its members and participating in HIV/AIDS prevention and control activities since August 2011. This group is currently implementing the project "Protecting the Future - Strengthening new community-based interventions to control HIV infection among young drug users in Vietnam" in Hai Son ward, Do Son district, Hai Phong city under cooperation agreement No. 53-12/2022/HDTN-SCDI dated December 30, 2022 of SCDI. In addition, the group also implements a number of HIV/AIDS prevention and control activities under the VUSTA HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Project funded by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria for the period 2021-2023.
The activities of the “Black Rose” group related to VUSTA’s HIV/AIDS prevention and control project include: approaching clients in high-risk groups such as men who have sex with men (MSM), sex workers, and drug users to communicate HIV/AIDS knowledge and services, testing for HIV in the community or providing self-testing kits, referring clients who test negative for HIV to preventive services...
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Regarding information on implementing HIV testing in the community related to the Project "Protecting the Future - Strengthening new community-based interventions to control HIV infection among young drug users in Vietnam", according to the initial report of CDC Hai Phong and SCDI, from January 1, 2023 to August 18, the number of clients who were counseled for HIV screening was 204 people, all of whom were negative. The age of the people tested for HIV may not be accurate because the people tested self-reported and did not present identification documents.
The HIV screening test technique used by this group is rapid testing. This is a simple technique, using a disposable blood lancet to lightly prick the fingertip, then squeeze out a drop of blood for testing. In addition, the group also uses oral fluid self-testing, which means using oral fluid to screen for HIV.
The above two techniques have been recommended by WHO for community testing, including non-professional testing and self-testing. The Ministry of Health has issued guidelines for community testing and guidelines for HIV testing techniques, which allow the use of these two techniques for community screening because they are simple, easy to perform and ensure that they do not cause the spread of infectious diseases.
Regarding the payment of people being tested, information from SCDI said that in the activity plan, the sponsor agreed to pay 100,000 VND, which is travel support money, and pay 25,000 VND when introducing another person to participate. Therefore, the group's payment to test participants is in accordance with the project outline approved by the competent authority.
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