Contact:
In Hanoi:
Hoang Thanh Ha 84.4.9346600
hha@worldbank.org
In Washington, DC:
Melissa Fossberg 202.458.4145 mfossberg@worldbank.org
HANOI, March 30, 2005 – The World Bank has approved a grant of US$35 million to support Vietnam’s program to curb the transmission of HIV/AIDS. The grant will help fund the HIV/AIDS Prevention Project for Vietnam, which works with vulnerable populations to help reduce transmission of the disease within these groups, as well as to the general population.
The number of people infected with HIV/AIDS in Vietnam is relatively low compared to other countries in the region. An estimated 245,000 people in Vietnam were living with HIV by the end of 2003, according to the country’s Ministry of Health. However,prevalence among high risk groups – largely intravenous drug users and sex workers – is increasing.
In response, the government has prioritized prevention programs among vulnerable populations, as past experience in other countries has shown that nation-wide efforts to target high-risk groups can help reduce the spread of HIV significantly. The government’s National HIV/AIDS Strategy aims to keep prevalence below 0.3 percent.
The country’s strategy also aims to increase awareness and change attitudes and behaviors about the epidemic among the general population and policymakers. “Discrimination is hindering strategies to halt transmission of HIV,” said Klaus Rohland, Director of the World Bank in Vietnam. “We will support the government’s efforts to aggressively and carefully create behavioral changes through communication efforts to reduce this stigma.”
The grant supports the development of innovative models to help reduce transmission of HIV/AIDS. It will also support the government's efforts to develop a national system to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of their National HIV/AIDS Prevention Program.
The major burden of disease is being borne by young people. More than 60 percent of the country’s reported HIV cases are attributed to people between 20 to 29 years old. If the epidemic continues to spread through this age group -- the country’s most economically productive demographic – the economic consequences will be serious.
“This National HIV/AIDS strategy places the responsibility for implementation with the People’s Committees of the provinces and cities,” said Mr. Rohland. “This project will support these efforts by providing subgrants to local authorities to help them in their fight against HIV/AIDS.”
More than 60 percent of the World Bank grant will be used to support the design and implementation of specific provincial action plans. Block grants will be provided to 18 provinces (An Giang, Bac Giang, Ben Tre, Cao Bang, Dong Nai, Hau Giang, Khanh Hoa, Kien Giang, Lai Chau, Nam Dinh, Nghe An, Son La, Thai Binh, Thai Nguyen, Thanh Hoa, Tien Giang, Vinh Long, and Yen Bai) and two cities (Hai Phong and Ho Chi Minh City).
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