The Vietnam Administration for HIV/AIDS Control (VAAC) under the Ministry of Health has received notice of the suspension of USAID-funded HIV/AIDS prevention projects in Vietnam, said Ms. Nguyen Hai Hue, an official from the VAAC.
The suspension follows the U.S. Agency for International Development’s (USAID) global suspension of operations starting February 7. This means ongoing USAID-funded projects in Vietnam will also be put on hold.
Ms. Hue noted that this could impact Vietnam’s HIV/AIDS prevention efforts, as USAID is a key supporter of these programs. The U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), implemented through USAID, funds critical services such as HIV testing, counseling, and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) treatment.
Currently, existing PrEP medication stockpiles from 2024 are still available at health facilities, but once depleted, individuals may have to pay out-of-pocket for HIV testing and counseling services, she added.
Despite this setback, Vietnam continues to receive support from other sources and maintains ongoing projects, she noted.
Meanwhile, Mr. Dinh Van Luong, director of the National Lung Hospital and head of Vietnam’s National Tuberculosis (TB) Program, stated that his program had anticipated a gradual decline in international funding. In response, Vietnam has developed a nationwide tuberculosis prevention and treatment system spanning all 63 provinces, from central hospitals to local clinics. While tuberculosis prevention remains assured, alternative funding sources will be needed as foreign aid diminishes.
Between 2014 and 2024, USAID implemented 16 healthcare projects in Vietnam, totaling approximately $90 million, primarily targeting tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS. Most recently, in January 2025, a USAID-supported project to end tuberculosis helped Vietnam develop three technical guidelines to enhance the detection of tuberculosis and latent TB cases. (Tuoi Tre)