On September 20, Mei Mei Peng, USAID/Vietnam Office of Health Deputy Director joined health authorities and community partners from Dien Bien province to recognize the significant progress the province has made in controlling the HIV epidemic and formally transition activities to local ownership. The USAID Sustainable HIV Response from Technical Assistance activity has been helping Dien Bien to advance HIV epidemic control since 2015 by implementing effective HIV strategies; monitoring; and strengthening the health services and systems to improve HIV services. As a result, there has been a 24 percent increase in the HIV cases identified; a 31 percent increase in the number of individuals on antiretroviral (ART) treatment; and more than 95 percent of people on ART treatment have achieved viral suppression, which limits onward HIV transmission as well as reduces morbidity and mortality.

So What? With support from USAID and PEPFAR, Dien Bien has been able to achieve a significant milestone towards sustainability - transition of the province’s HIV response to local ownership. This is a great example of USAID’s emphasis on the Journey to Self-Reliance.