Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a game-changing preventive regimen that can reduce the risk of HIV infection by more than 92 percent, if taken daily, as part of a combination HIV prevention strategy. Since March 2017, USAID has launched PrEP pilot programs in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. During this period, USAID has also advocated to Vietnam’s Ministry of Health (MOH) to scale-up PrEP by presenting evidence from countries that have already successfully scaled PrEP. On May 29, USAID’s Healthy Markets activity led a mid-term review of these PrEP service pilots. During the review, Vietnam’s Ministry of Health announced its decision to expand access to PrEP across the country. This decision makes Vietnam the second country in Southeast Asia to offer PrEP through a public health program.

So What? Making PrEP widely available across Vietnam will prevent tens of thousands of new infections and thousands of AIDS-related deaths. Vietnam’s commitment to scale up PrEP nationwide is testament to successful advocacy by USAID as well as building self-reliance for Vietnam’s HIV response.