VZCZCXRO8265
RR RUEHHM
DE RUEHHI #0912/01 1371055
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 171055Z MAY 07
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5387
INFO RUEHHM/AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH 3038

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 HANOI 000912 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KHIV TBIO PREL PGOV VM
 
SUBJECT: HIV/AIDS: AMBASSADOR HANDS OVER FY 2007 VIETNAM OPERATIONAL 
PLAN TO GVN 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary: On May 9, the Ambassador formally presented to 
Minister of Health Tran Thi Trung Chien the President's Emergency 
Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) Vietnam Operational Plan for fiscal 
year 2007.  The Ambassador urged greater GVN coordination to ensure 
that HIV-positive individuals residing in "06 centers" (camps for 
former intravenous drug users) have access to comprehensive HIV 
services; expressed hope that the collaborative development of the 
methadone program moves forward; and, expressed appreciation for GVN 
efforts under the new HIV/AIDS law to address issues related to 
stigma and discrimination, cautioning that much work remains to be 
done in this area.  Minister Chien responded that the MOH will soon 
submit a methadone treatment plan to Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dzung 
for his consideration and agreed with the Ambassador on the 
importance of reducing stigma.  End Summary. 
 
Handing Over the Plan 
--------------------- 
 
¶2. (SBU) On May 9, the Ambassador formally presented to Minister of 
Health Tran Thi Trung Chien and her colleagues the PEPFAR Country 
Operational Plan for fiscal year 2007.  The plan calls for improved 
counseling, testing and treatment of those suffering from HIV/AIDS 
as well as stepped up efforts to prevent the disease's spread. 
 
Counseling and Testing Services 
------------------------------- 
 
¶4. (SBU) In his remarks to those assembled at the ceremony, the 
Ambassador highlighted how the plan addresses these areas.  For one, 
access to quality counseling and testing services is limited 
throughout Vietnam in part due to the lack of availability of same 
day, rapid testing for HIV diagnosis.  PEPFAR is working with the 
Ministry of Health (MOH) on rectifying this, and the Ambassador 
urged Minister Chien to support the approval of rapid testing for 
HIV diagnosis in Vietnam.  (Note:  Currently, most Vietnamese who go 
for HIV testing have to wait days before they get results back.  For 
its part, the MOH reportedly has hesitated to approve rapid HIV 
diagnostic testing because of anecdotal reports that, following 
false positive diagnosis, some patients have suffered physical abuse 
at home. End Note.)  PEPFAR is also helping the MOH to provide HIV 
counseling and testing services, as well as working with the 
ministry to develop the necessary technical and legal documents, 
including national guidelines, and a national training curriculum, 
the Ambassador added.  These processes are important to ensure 
development of standardized national procedures for all programs, 
regardless of the source of support. 
 
¶5. (SBU) The Ambassador urged the MOH to assist the Ministry of 
Labor, War Invalid and Social Affairs (MOLISA) and the Voluntary 
Youth Force to collaborate more closely on ensuring that 
HIV-positive individuals residing in '06 centers have access to 
comprehensive HIV services, including antiretroviral treatment. 
This includes ensuring that patients who have started treatment in 
the community continue to have access once they enter the '06 
centers. 
 
Treatment of PLWHA 
------------------ 
 
¶6. (SBU) Turning to the subject of treatment, the Ambassador said 
the operational plan contains ideas for innovative collaboration 
between PEPFAR and the Global Fund.  During last year's operational 
planning, PEPFAR and Global Fund representatives in Vietnam 
negotiated an agreement whereby each donor funds specific services 
that combine to form a well-planned package of comprehensive 
services in 11 provinces.  This model would make optimal use of 
donor resources to provide higher quality, more comprehensive 
services to more people in more provinces than either program could 
do alone, the Ambassador told his MOH counterparts. 
 
¶7. (SBU) PEPFAR is doubling our financial support for treatment of 
HIV/AIDS, with over USD 21 million allocated for the treatment 
program, nearly USD 10 million of which will be used to purchase, 
import, distribute and effectively manage storage of antiretroviral 
drugs, the Ambassador noted.  PEPFAR is committed to support the 
GVN's goal of providing treatment for 70 percent of people living 
with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in need by 2010, the Ambassador added.  In 
addition, the plan provides for an expansion of pediatric treatment 
to at least 1,200 children by the end of this fiscal year in 
collaboration with other organizations, such as the Clinton 
Foundation.  To achieve this goal, the capacity for early infant 
diagnostic testing in Vietnam must be expanded as soon as possible. 
This standard of care, used worldwide, will save children's lives by 
allowing for earlier care and treatment of those infected with HIV, 
the Ambassador said. 
 
¶8. (SBU) The 2007 plan provides increased funding for care of 
persons infected with both HIV and tuberculosis in PEPFAR focus 
provinces and expansion of services that aim to prevent mother to 
child transmission in the highest prevalence provinces in Vietnam, 
 
HANOI 00000912  002 OF 003 
 
 
the Ambassador continued.  On methadone treatment plans, our hope is 
that the collaborative development of the methadone program moves 
forward so that by the fall, we can start the first person on the 
treatment program.  The Ambassador told Minister Chien that we see 
this program as a crucial milestone for the HIV program in Vietnam 
and are pleased to be a part of this groundbreaking work because it 
will help bring down drug addiction rates and, in turn, HIV 
infection rates.  Minister Chien responded that the MOH will soon 
submit a methadone plan to Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dzung for his 
approval. 
 
Prevention 
---------- 
 
¶9. (SBU) Since the HIV epidemic in Vietnam remains largely 
concentrated among "most at risk" populations, effective HIV 
prevention through community-based outreach, programs for youth and 
successful substance abuse treatment remain critical to the control 
of HIV/AIDS in Vietnam, the Ambassador said. 
 
¶10. (SBU) The PEPFAR team in Vietnam remains committed to ensuring 
that HIV prevention outreach not only raises awareness, but results 
in actual behavior change, he stressed.  The team is working with 
Boston University to launch an evaluation of PEPFAR-supported 
outreach in six focus provinces.  The information from this 
evaluation will help strengthen PEPFAR-supported peer outreach 
programs in Vietnam, ensuring behavior change for more "most at 
risk" populations. 
 
¶11. (SBU) Multiple sources indicate that clients of commercial sex 
workers comprise the greatest number of new HIV cases in Vietnam, 
the Ambassador continued.  To lessen potential for such a shift in 
the epidemic, PEPFAR remains committed to working with local and 
international partners to reduce potential clients' risky behavior. 
This summer, multiple health and development agencies will launch 
integrated behavior change communication programs targeting 
potential clients.  This work will stress the importance of men 
avoiding risky behaviors, yet will not add to the considerable 
stigma already applied to commercial sex workers. 
 
Stigma and Discrimination and Administrative Costs 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
 
¶12. (SBU) The Ambassador relayed the USG's appreciation for GVN 
efforts under the new HIV/AIDS law to address issues related to 
stigma and discrimination.  He pointed out that we presently support 
two legal clinics to assist HIV/AIDS sufferers with legal services 
and are looking to expand these services in fiscal year 2007. 
Minister Chien concurred that much work remains to lessen stigmas 
associated with HIV/AIDS. 
 
¶13. (SBU) The Ambassador congratulated Minister Chien for the GVN's 
success in bringing the various ministries involved in the fight 
against HIV/AIDS together.  The "road to success" lies in improving 
coordination between the GVN and donors and among the donors.  On 
administrative costs associated with the fight against HIV/AIDS, the 
Ambassador stated that the PEPFAR program is working hard to reduce 
the USG's administrative costs for the program in Vietnam, and that 
in this plan these costs are 11.5 percent of overall expenditures; 
PEFPAR Vietnam's aim is to decrease administrative costs to under 
ten percent in fiscal year 2007.  Minister Chien responded that she 
appreciated these efforts. 
 
¶14. (U) After the event, the Embassy released a press statement that 
received good local coverage.  Full text of this statement follows 
in paragraph 15. 
 
¶15. (U) Begin Text. 
 
"US Provides $59 million To Support Vietnam's Efforts to Counter 
HIV/AIDS" 
 
In a ceremony at the Ministry of Health this afternoon, Ambassador 
Michael W. Marine presented the 2007 Country Operational Plan (COP) 
to Minister Chien in support of the Government of Vietnam's HIV/AIDS 
prevention, care and treatment efforts.  In his remarks, Ambassador 
Marine renewed the commitment of the United States to work as 
Vietnam's partner in fighting this dreaded disease.  "The bilateral 
relationship and myriad areas of cooperation our two countries share 
are enhanced by our partnership in battling the terrible disease of 
HIV/AIDS and its many consequences," the Ambassador said. 
 
The 2007 annual plan lays out how we will spend 59 million dollars 
to carry out a joint U.S. and Government of Vietnam vision to 
support prevention, care and treatment.  The activities described in 
the plan have been developed in coordination with the Ministry of 
Health and other partners to provide support for priority programs 
of action within the Vietnam National Strategy for HIV and AIDS 
Control.  To strengthen HIV prevention programs, the Office of the 
Global AIDS Coordinator has also approved more than $1,000,000 in 
 
HANOI 00000912  003 OF 003 
 
 
additional 2007 funds that will be used to support different 
partners to expand outreach efforts, train more Vietnamese drug 
abuse counselors and support programs for youth. 
 
End Text. 
 
MARINE