Infectious Diseases (Including HIV/AIDS)
Vietnam is a tropical country and is a hotspot for many different kind of infectious diseases. Many of these can easily become a deadly pandemic such as SARS, Avian influenza and Cholera. With the improved performance of the health care system in this area, the morbidity and mortality due to infectious diseases in Vietnam has been reduced from 59.2% of total health care visits in 1986 to 19.8% in 2010. In addition, the Expanded Program for Immunization, started in the early 90’s, has saved thousands of children’s lives. According to the Ministry of Health, the top ten infectious diseases for hospital admissions are 1) Influenza , 2) Malaria, 3) Dengue, 4) TB, 5) Shigellosis, 6) Amoebiasis, 7) Typhoid Fever, 8) Mumps, 9) Viral Hepatitis and 10) Measles.
The incidence of HIV/AIDS in Vietnam has been decreasing from 2007 onwards. In 2007 30,846 new cases were reported in 2007 compared to 12,559 in 2013. The most common transmission routes of HIV in Vietnam are 1) blood borne through injecting drug users sharing injecting equipment 2) Unsafe sex and 3) Mother to Child transmission. The transmission rate is even higher in MSM and Sex Workers who also inject drugs. Co-infection with other infectious diseases, such as hepatitis and TB, are key issues for the HIV/AIDS program in Vietnam.
In response to the country situation, PHAD is implementing different activities including prevention activities, along with epidemiological and operational research to collect scientific evidence to inform policy and decision making.
Infectious Disease Projects in PHAD:
http://phad.vn/urban-railway-construction-in-ho-chi-minh-city-ben-thanh-suoi-tien-section/
http://phad.vn/vi/strengthening-vctpitc-services-at-military-health-facilities-partner-with-mmd/