USAID’s Sustainable HIV Response from Technical Assistance (SHIFT) activity has been working diligently to enroll and retain HIV patients on antiretroviral therapy (ART). Doing so includes strengthening linkages from HIV diagnosis to treatment, expediting ART initiation, strengthening ART adherence, and streamlining patient tracking and reporting systems. From October to December 2017, USAID enrolled 735 new ART patients across 55 sites, exceeding its target by 9%.  

So What? Given the powerful benefits of ART in preventing onward transmission, enrolling and maintaining HIV patients on ART is the key to achieving HIV epidemic control. These latest results show that USAID strategies are working and Vietnam is progressing towards its 90-90-90 goals.