Summary

Program goals

The project aims to reduce the impact and spread of HIV in Vietnam by improving the quality of life and access to services for HIV infected and affected families, especially women and children.

Key program components

The program uses and strengthens the capacities of the existing health care structures to improve the health of seropositive mothers and children. Activities include:

• Capacity building of mass organizations like the Women's Union and the Red Cross to improve the quality and quantity of their social economic services.

• Capacity building for mothers and their families to receive and give peer support and to access improved services through self-support groups such as the Sunflowers and Cactus Blossoms. The Sunflower Blossom group provides tailor-made services to women without a history of drug use. The Cactus Blossom group helps women who return from rehabilitation centers and are in the process of reintegrating into their communities.

• Establish a referral system in which peer counselors work in local health facilities and help patients link to other medical, social and economic services.

• Support regional operational research on HIV, reproductive health, poverty and ethnicity.

Achievements to date:

• More than 2300 members, including their husbands and children now have good access to medical, social and economic services.

• More than 88% of the members who need antiretroviral therapy can access it (both adults and children).

• Excellent adherence, almost no loss of follow up to antiretroviral therapy.

• Increased confidence of both service providers and end-users. HIV-infected women are now recognized as partners and not just patients.

• The percentage of HIV infected and affected women in the groups who can go to school is higher than the national average.

• The program has been recognized as one of the best practices of economic empowerment in world.