(VOVWORLD) - A medical center in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho has earned an applause for raising public awareness of HIV/AIDS prevention and control, caring for, helping, and not discriminating against HIV carriers. The achievement of the Preventive Medicine Center of Binh Thuy district is attributed to the combined efforts of local information disseminators, collaborators, and healthcare workers.
 At a training course for collaborators hosted by the Binh Thuy’s Preventive Medicine Center. |
Approximately 800 HIV/AIDS carriers in and around Can Tho city are currently under the management and treatment of the outpatient clinic of Binh Thuy’s Preventive Medicine Center.
Doctor Nguyen Quoc Su said HIV infected people are given periodic medical examination.
“Most HIV/AIDS carriers are young persons who lose faith in life. They don't know who to confide in, even their family members. That’s why they come to the clinic, where they can put their trust in healthcare workers. Counseling plays a key role throughout their treatment,” said Su.
To make HIV/AIDS prevention and control effective, communications sessions are held every year.
Of all its services, the Preventive Medicine Center attaches greatest importance to counseling and sharing with the carriers.
Each ward in Binh Thuy district has a group of collaborators to help people in need of HIV-related advice.
27-year-old Le Trung Hieu, a collaborator with the Preventive Medicine Center, said, “On top of what I’ve learned on my own, each year I participate in a training course on HIV. I love the job because I think my counseling and encouragement help HIV carriers feel better and changes their way of thinking.”
 Collaborators of the Preventive Medicine Center of Binh Thuy district at a festival on HIV/AIDS information dissemination in Can Tho City. |
The fight against HIV/AIDS in Binh Thuy district has seen many gains due to an active response from the community and local authorities and social organizations.
Many programs for harm reduction interventions, voluntary testing, care and treatment of infected people, and prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission have reduced the spread of HIV.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Center has been used as a field hospital, but HIV carriers can still receive medical advice when needed.
The outpatient clinic has been moved to Tra An ward’s Medical Center. The clinic gives HIV/AIDS carriers medicine for three months instead of once a month as before.
Those who need medical advice or a check-up but are living in a quarantine area can have a medical worker visit them, according to healthcare worker Nguyen Thi Mong Diem.
“If an HIV/AIDS infected person doesn’t live in the locality, we’ll ask another medical clinic to temporarily provide them medicine during the pandemic period. When they return to Bình Thủy, we’ll treat them again,” said Diem.
The outpatient clinic of Binh Thuy district’s Preventive Medicine Center has been awarded a Certificate of Merit from the Can Tho city People's Committee for its outstanding achievements in HIV/AIDS care and treatment last year.