UNICEF’S INTEGRATED RESPONSE AND PARTNERSHIPS IN HIV/AIDS ACTIVITIES

In close collaboration with its Government counterparts, UNICEF’s response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic is cross sectoral and includes the following: Healthy living and life skills education (HLLS) for in and out of school adolescents; care and support for children infected and affected by HIV/AIDS (CABA); prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT) and care and support for people living with HIV/AIDS through the Buddhist Leadership Initiative (BLI).

UNICEF has addressed HIV/AIDS issues within the broader framework of healthy living with life skills education initiatives, implemented in 18 districts in 8 provinces. School-based healthy living and life skills education is provided through healthy living classes, youth taskforces and parental education sessions in lower secondary school settings. Young people who do not attend schools receive this through community-based healthy living clubs, parental education sessions and outreach activities to family and community. MOET and mass-organizations such as VWU and YU are main counterparts for this project.

Life skills education is used to support adolescents to develop healthy living practices and to deal with issues like drug and substance abuse, sexual abuse, HIV/AIDS, teenage sexual relationships and teenage pregnancy, as well as juvenile justice issues. Particular attention has been paid to the promotion of participation and rights of adolescents particularly among ethnic minority groups and to addressing stigma and discrimination. Peer education is enhanced through all the initiatives.

In terms of HIV/AIDS and child advocacy, national policy makers, community members and local authorities have been sensitized to the urgency and importance of HIV/AIDS prevention and care. This has been accomplished through initiatives such as exchange visits, workshops, sessions with the mass media, press releases and special forums and conferences that include the participation of children and adolescents who are infected or affected by HIV/AIDS. The adolescent forum uses innovative participatory approaches which enable young people to express themselves, as well as sensitize leaders to their roles, voices and rights.

UNICEF is globally committed to support the prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission. In Vietnam UNICEF supports the Ministry of Health both at the central (development of plan of action and legislation) and peripheral levels (interventions at provincial, district and community level). A pilot project started in 2004 in 5 Districts in the 5 Provinces with the highest HIV prevalence rates. Interventions are being carried out at both health services and community level, and include support to Voluntary Counselling and Testing during ante-natal care services, information on HIV/AIDS for pregnant women, provision of prophylactic drugs to mothers and newborns, care during labour and delivery and information about infant feeding options for HIV infected mothers.

In Viet Nam there are increasing numbers of children affected by HIV/AIDS (CABA), leaving many without primary care givers. To combat this, UNICEF is working extensively with various government departments including MOLISA, CPFC and WU to improve community based responses to care including assisting the development of a National Plan of Action for community based care responses for CNSP, the development of a Child Protection Strategy, the development and delivery of training for direct care givers of CABA, Psycho-social support and care for CABA, research into high risk behaviours of children, training of social workers including case work management and the development of a community support network.

UNICEF supports the Buddhist Leadership Initiative which focuses on prevention and care. Currently this initiative is being carried out in two pagodas in Ho Chi Minh City and one pagoda in Hanoi. In 2005, two more pagodas are expected to join the initiative. Training in community based HIV/AIDS prevention, care and support has just been conducted at the Hue Buddhist Academy in central Vietnam. Discussions are on-going to encourage other faith based organizations to participate in similar activities.

For more information, please contact:

Dr. Luisa Brumana, Project Officer MCH/PMCT
Tel.: (84-4) 942 5706-11, Ext. 275

Mr. Trinh Anh Tuan, Communication Officer
Tel.: (84-4) 942 5706-11, Ext. 234

(Updated June 2005)