On December 11, 2019, the kick-off workshop of the Project “Healthy Markets” and “USAID Enhanced Community HIV Link – Southern (CLINK) Project 2020 was organized in Dong Nai province. The workshop, held by LIFE centre and PATH organization, was attended by the representatives from U.S Agency for International Development (USAID), Dong Nai Department of Health, Dong Nai Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), hospitals, outpatient clinic (OPC), 5 community- based organizations (CBO), and 2 expanding community network in HCM City.

Dr Phan Hai Nam, Deputy Director of Dong Nai Department of Health, open remark at the workshop

LIFE Centre and PATH represented FY2019 Dong Nai CLINK and Healthy Markets project performance and FY2020 plan. During FY19 COP 18, this projectz found 578 new HIV-positive cases and successfully linked almost all cases to treatment. Besides, the project detected 43 cases with AHI. In addition, 83% recency results in Dong Nai province was reached by CBO.

LIFE Centre model for strengthening capacity for CBO

Next year, the project will accelerate case finding and referring treatment , increase using PrEP in key populations, promote Index Testing Services (ITS), improve communication capacity and promote CBO services. Outstanding issues are coordinated between OPC and CBO with the coming challenge.

MPH. Nguyen Nguyen Nhu Trang, Director of LIFE Centre (middle) attending the workshop

The workshop closed with the commitment to support CBO in implementing HIV / AIDS Prevention Program in Dong Nai province to achieve 90-90-90 target in 2020.

Kick off workshop of the project “Healthy Markets” and “USAID Enhanced Community HIV Link-Southern Project” 2020