USAID Collaborates with MTV Vietnam to Promote HIV-related Goods and Services as a Potential Business Opportunity

Speeches Shim

Thursday, July 20, 2017

While civil society organizations (CSO) play an important role in helping key populations (including men who have sex with men, transgender communities and sex workers) access essential HIV goods and services - including condoms, lubricants and other services - these activities are often not financially sustainable. USAID’s Healthy Markets Project collaborated with MTV Vietnam to produce MTV Bus - a road show styled TV program that discusses various Lesbian-Gay-Bisexual-Transgender (LGBT) and HIV-related issues. One of the six episodes focused on the entrepreneurial spirit found within LGBT communities and featured a gay flower shop business entrepreneur who has successfully partnered with a local CSO. It also highlighted HIV-related retail and service business opportunities in Vietnam,  including sale of condoms and fee-based HIV testing services.  So What? Promoting the HIV-related goods and services sector as a potential business opportunity is helping generate a vibrant market for HIV goods and services led by and targeted towards those most at risk of HIV.