HIV results in Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) in humans, attacking the immune system and opening the door for harmful microorganisms to grow or invade. This “disease of the century” is contagious, can affect anyone, and there is currently no vaccine for it. On November 25, the DTU Union and the Danang Center for Disease Control (CDC) held a seminar on “Information on HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis”, to discuss intervention methods, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV with antiretroviral drugs, and online HIV testing.
The meeting was attended by Dr. Doan Kim Lien, Director of the Department of HIV/AIDS Prevention and Substance Addiction Treatment; Mr. Bui Ngoc Chuong, Manager of the Harm Reduction Intervention Program; and others from the Danang CDC. From DTU, Vice-Provost Dr. Hoang Ha, College of Medicine & Pharmacy Union; Secretary and Student Union Chairwoman, Ms. Nguyen Thi Tuyet, and 200 students from a variety of majors.
Dr. Doan Kim Lien
“On behalf of the Danang CDC, we’re very pleased that the Board of Provosts, the lecturers, and the university Union executive committee have allowed us to meet with DTU students to talk about HIV/AIDS prevention in the community,” said Dr.Lien. “On August 4, the Prime Minister announced a national strategy to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030. We now need the collaboration and support of government departments, business and universities to achieve that goal.”
Since 2020, the number of annual HIV infections in Vietnam has risen to 14,000, with 1,000 people infected per month. Eighty-percent of those were attributed to sexual transmission, with an especially sharp increase among homosexuals. In the first nine months of 2022, 9,025 infections and 1,378 deaths were recorded, and the increasing quantity has become a serious issue countrywide. Dr. Lien presented detailed information on safe sex, HIV/AIDS, and on PrEP to raise awareness of HIV prevention.
Students, lecturers, and Danang CDC staff
Dr. Lien’s has a lively, attractive and intimate way of presenting and his audience obtained a clear understanding of how to prevent HIV infection and learned about pre-exposure prophylaxis. PrEP is the use of antiretroviral (ARV) drugs to prevent HIV infection in high-risk people who are not yet infected but demonstrate high-risk behavior. PrEP can control the level of antiretroviral drugs in the blood to prevent HIV from entering and multiplying in the body. With proper treatment, PrEP is up to 97% effective to stem sexual transmission of HIV and 74% effective in arresting infection from medical needles, but must be used within 72 hours of exposure.
In reaching so many DTU students, the seminar accelerated the progress of the government strategy and enabled them all to learn how to stay healthy, now and in the future.
(Media Center)