Vietnam - AIDS, tuberculosis prevention reviewed

The 8th conference of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM) for the Asia-Pacific opened in Hanoi on September 27, with over 200 delegates from 15 countries and territories worldwide, and international organisations taking part.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Xuyen affirmed GFATM’s positive and effective contributions to countries in Asia-Pacific and the world, including Vietnam.

Xuyen said that Vietnam has so far received US$164.8 million in aid from GFATM as well as technical and professional assistance from senior experts.

She reported that GFATM has committed a total of US$193 million in aid for Vietnam projects in the rounds of 2004-2008, 2008-2012, 2010-2014 and 2011-2015 to help the country prevent and combat HIV/AIDS.

In 2004, the project was launched in 20 cities and provinces with the highest rates of HIV/AIDS infection. Then, in 2010, it was expanded to 31 cities and provinces and in 2011, to 50 cities and provinces.

Regarding the tuberculosis prevention programme, the aid of over US$80 million funded by GFATM has actively contributed to raising public awareness of the disease and, together with

Vietnam’s tuberculosis prevention programme was helping to eliminate the disease in the country, she said.

Since 2005, the malaria prevention programme has received almost US$46 million in committed aid from the GFATM.

At the three-day event, delegates shared existing challenges in implementing projects and discussed experience in managing the financial risk to GFATM-funded projects.

Established in 2002 in Geneva, the non-profit GFATM annually provides funding of nearly US$1 billion for activities to fight HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria in 140 countries and territories.

(VNA)

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