Speeches Shim
Community based organizations (CBOs) in Vietnam play an essential role in delivering HIV services, but they lack the skills to effectively promote these services to key populations and/or need support to eloquently advocate for resources. On August 2, USAID’s Enhanced Community HIV Link-Southern project trained 30 CBO representatives on communication and advocacy, including the use of film and storyboard development that incorporates success stories developed by CBO outreach workers.
On August 1-2, USAID’s Governance for Inclusive Growth Program and the General Department of Vietnam Customs organized a legal review on specialized inspection procedures for import-export. It was attended by 60 representatives from ministries as well as central and local customs authorities, focused on those actions required for Vietnam to implement the National Single Window and the ASEAN Single Window, a unique regional initiative to expedite cargo clearance in order to increase economic integration within ASEAN. In addition, participants updated legal documents and policies related to import-export specialized inspections to bring them in line with the Government’s Resolution 19 which works to enhance the business environment and national competitiveness and standardized the list of import-export goods that will fall under special inspection procedures.
In order to achieve HIV epidemic control, Vietnam has set ambitious goals, where by 2020, 90% of all people living with HIV will know their HIV status; 90% of all people with diagnosed HIV infection will receive sustained antiretroviral therapy; and 90% of all people receiving antiretroviral therapy will have viral suppression. In order to help achieve these goals, USAID and its partners have introduced innovative testing services and models, including HIV self-testing kits, online questionnaires to assess the risk of contracting HIV, and in-person testing options for those at risk and difficult to reach. Between October 2017 and June 2018, USAID’s Sustainable HIV Response from Technical Assistance (SHIFT) project tested and confirmed 1,608 HIV positive cases across 11 provinces.
USAID’s Disabilities Integration of Services and Therapies Network for Capacity and Treatment activity works to improve the quality of life of children with disabilities under the age of six to enhance their development, strengthen family care and support, and promote the social inclusion of children. In addition, the activity trains key personnel from health, education, and social affairs sectors to use screening tools, disability assessments, special education, rehabilitation, and case management. USAID launched the activity in Tay Ninh province in 2016 and in Dong Nai province in May 2018. Last week, USAID/Vietnam’s Mission Director Michael Greene and Binh Phuoc’s provincial leaders launched the activity in the province. Through this activity, USAID will affect more than 2,900 direct beneficiaries, and 1,000 service providers including doctors, rehabilitation technicians, kindergarten teachers, and community workers in all three provinces.
USAID’s Governance for Inclusive Growth Program is helping Vietnam’s Ministry of Finance (MOF) to consistently incorporate international commitments from numerous free trade agreements (FTAs) into the country’s legal documents relating to the finance sector. Such international commitments are broad and complex, from tariffs on import-export goods to services such as freer movement of professionals in accounting, insurance, securities and banking. On July 26-27, USAID and MOF held a two-day workshop to provide MOF representatives with skills and knowledge to learn and institutionalize international commitments from signed FTAs in the finance sector.
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