PRESS RELEASE

June 07, 2006

U.S. Embassy to announce 2006 Country Operational Plan supporting Vietnam’s HIV/AIDS efforts

The U.S. Embassy-Hanoi and the Ministry of Health of Vietnam (MOH) will hold a ceremony on June 7, 2006 in Hanoi at which Ambassador Michael W. Marine will announce the 2006 Country Operational Plan (COP) to support the Government of Vietnam’s HIV/AIDS prevention care and treatment efforts recently approved by the Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator.

This annual plan reflects a joint U.S. Government and Government of Vietnam plan to support prevention, care and treatment in Vietnam in total of more than 34 million dollars, including US$11 million for ARV treatment activities, US$9 million for care for persons with HIV, and US$7 for prevention activities.  The activities in the COP have been carefully planned, in coordination with MOH and many other partners, to provide support for the 9 priority programs of action within the Vietnam National Strategy for HIV and AIDS Control. 

In the past year, Vietnam has made tremendous success in initiating high-quality ARV treatment for many people.  Currently over 1,500 persons are on treatment with ARV procured with President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) dollars.  The U.S. is committed to increasing this number to support rational and high-quality scale-up.

NOTE:  Reporters are invited to the event at the Ministry of Health, which will start at 1:00 p.m., June 7, at #138A Giang Vo Street, Hanoi (Conference Room 1, 2nd Floor, Building A).  They should register in advance with Mr. Pham Thuc of U.S. Embassy at phone 831-4580 x153 or email phamtt@state.gov.

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