To sustain HIV care and treatment in the wake of declining international donor funds, the Vietnamese government aims to enroll 100% of people living with HIV in Social Health Insurance (SHI). However, doing so requires that people living with HIV (PLHIV) know that SHI is available, understand its benefits, have help enrolling in it, and regularly use SHI for HIV services.

On January 30, the USAID activity collaborated with the Vietnam Network of People Living with HIV and the Vietnam Administration for HIV/AIDS Control (VAAC) to launch a campaign promoting SHI. This included releasing a short video featuring celebrity actors (including recently crowned Miss Universe Vietnam H’Hen Nie) playing the roles of PLHIV and how they improved their quality of life by enrolling in SHI. The event was attended by over 150 people, including representatives from the local government, the USG, and representatives from PLHIV communities. U.S. Consul General Mary Tarnowka and VAAC Deputy Director General Dr. Hoang Dinh Canh gave speeches at the event.

So What? This campaign will help increase PLHIV awareness, trust, and use of SHI for HIV services, and therefore enable the sustainability of HIV care and treatment services in Vietnam’s rapidly transitioning response.