USAID Vietnam Mission Director Michael Greene made the announcement of the five-year continuation of the community-based grant under President Obama’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).
Community-based organizations such as LIFE Centre Vietnam are key partners, helping the US assist Vietnam in achieving its ambitious targets Mr Greene said at the ceremony announcing the decision to continue the funding.
We hope that our partner, LIFE will continue to help strengthen the capacity of community-based organizations and the HIV/AIDS services that they provide to support a sustainable HIV/AIDS response in Vietnam.
The USAID Enhanced Community HIV Link – Southern project, currently being given effect in Ho Chi Minh City, provides effective community-based HIV/AIDS services to men who have sex with men (MSM) and people living with HIV (PLHIV).
In the past few years, the project has made a significantly contribution to the fight against HIV in Vietnam by serving more than 18,000 MSM and 1,550 PLHIV with necessary services.
It is our goal to enhance the capabilities of LIFE to respond to the HIV epidemic in Vietnam by strengthening their human, organizational and advocacy ability, he continued.
Since 2004, the United States through the President Obama’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) program has collaborated with Vietnam to transform HIV from a fatal diagnosis to that of a treatable illness.