In Vietnam, stigma and discrimination remains a major barrier to HIV testing and treatment, particularly in mountainous and rural areas. On December 20-21, USAID’s Sustainable HIV Response from Technical Assistance activity and the Dien Bien Provincial AIDS Center led two trainings for local government health workers and community-based supporters. More than 70 participants learned how to reduce stigma and discrimination barriers faced by key populations in their communities, including respecting the dignity and protecting the confidentiality of people at risk of HIV and PLHIV, both in health settings and in their communities.

So What? Reducing subtle barriers to testing and treatment will help close remaining gaps to reaching Vietnam’s 90-90-90 targets (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) and a sustainable HIV response.