US embassy cable - 05HANOI1167

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HANOI 001167 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR S/GAC 
DEPT PASS USAID FOR ANE/KUNDER AND ANE-SPO BRADY 
DEPT PASS USAID FOR ANE/KENNEDY 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID, ECON, OSCI, VM, HIV/AIDS 
SUBJECT: VIETNAM:  THE DEPUTY SECRETARY'S VISIT TO HIV/AIDS 
HOSPITAL 
 
1.  Summary: The Deputy Secretary visited the National 
Institute for Clinical Research and Tropical Medicine 
(NICRTM) at Hanoi's Bach Mai Hospital on May 6 to learn about 
its programs for the care, treatment and identification of 
people living with HIV/AIDS.  Hospital and program directors 
gave brief presentations about the hospital, the HIV/AIDS 
inpatient and outpatient care programs and the voluntary 
counseling and testing centers. They thanked the United 
States for selecting Vietnam as one of fifteen focus 
countries in the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief 
(PEPFAR).  The Deputy Secretary noted that Bach Mai 
Hospital's HIV/AIDS program is the cornerstone of HIV/AIDS 
activities in Vietnam and said that its success will help in 
ongoing prevention efforts.  He briefly toured the inpatient 
ward and presented gifts of powdered milk and books to AIDS 
patients. Twenty members of the international and Vietnamese 
press covered the Deputy Secretary's visit to Bach Mai.  End 
Summary. 
 
2.  The Deputy Secretary met with Vice Minister of Health Le 
Ngoc Trong; Director of Bach Mai Hospital Dr. Tran Quy; 
Director of the National Institute for Clinical Research and 
Tropical Medicine (NICRTM) Professor Nguyen Duc Hien; 
representatives of the Therapy, International Cooperation and 
Preventive Medicine Departments of the Ministry of Health; 
and, staff at the Bach Mai Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam.  The 
purpose of the visit was to learn about their programs for 
the care, treatment and identification of people living with 
HIV/AIDs. 
 
3.  Representing the Minister of Health, Vice Minister Trong 
welcomed the Deputy Secretary.  He noted that this visit 
demonstrated the interest of the United States in the health 
and welfare of the Vietnamese people. He thanked the United 
States for selecting Vietnam as one of fifteen PEPFAR Focus 
Countries and urged close collaboration between the United 
States and Vietnam to meet the goals both of Vietnam's 
National Strategy to Combat HIV/AIDS and PEPFAR. Doctors Quy, 
Hien and staff followed with descriptions of Bach Mai 
Hospital and its HIV/AIDS programs. 
 
4.  Dr. Quy briefed that Bach Mai hospital, established in 
1911, is now the largest hospital in Vietnam.  It employs 
more than 2,000 health care workers. Within this hospital, 
the National Institute for Clinical Research and Tropical 
Medicine is responsible for the care and treatment of 
patients with HIV/AIDS.  The hospital also operates a 
separate Voluntary Counseling and Testing Center (VCT). 
Funding for the development and operation of the inpatient 
and outpatient programs as well as the VCT center comes, in 
part, from the President's Emergency Plan. 
 
5. Dr. Hien noted that the NICRTM inpatient program was 
established in 1989.  It treats 300-400 HIV/AIDS patients 
each year.  The program initiated antiretroviral therapy 
(ART) in 1997; approximately 80 patients are now on ART, 
funded by the Ministry of Health.  Dr. Hien emphasized that 
PEPFAR funds will greatly increase the number of AIDS 
patients who will be able to receive ART.  The NICRTM 
outpatient program was established in December 2003.  It is 
supported by PEPFAR through the Department of Health and 
Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 
Since then, more than 1,110 patients have received clinical 
care, lab tests, treatment for opportunistic infections and 
counseling. NICRTM also trains staff from Bach Mai Hospital 
and others in the care and treatment of HIV/AIDS patients, 
including the administration of ARTs. 
 
6. Dr. Hien said that since its opening in February 2003, the 
Bach Mai VCT Center has served more than 5,300 clients, of 
whom more than 23 percent have tested HIV positive. Center 
services include testing for HIV infection (laboratory 
services), counseling and referrals to other hospital 
services. PEPFAR funds this project through USAID.  This 
program provides staff training, quality assurance and 
outreach. 
 
7. The Deputy Secretary closed the one-hour program by noting 
that Bach Mai Hospital HIV/AIDS program is the cornerstone of 
HIV/AIDS activities in Vietnam. Bach Mai's success will help 
in ongoing prevention efforts in Vietnam.  The Deputy 
Secretary predicted that the USD 25 million dedicated to 
 
SIPDIS 
HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment through PEPFAR will 
grow.  PEPFAR will help the United States and Vietnam broaden 
the base of the bilateral relationship. He concluded by 
thanking the hospital staff for their hard work and 
commitment to treating and caring for patients with HIV/AIDS. 
 
BOARDMAN