U.S. joins Vietnam in AIDS fight

The U.S. government is stepping up efforts to help Vietnam counter the HIV/AIDS issue in Nha Trang City.

A new program was launched at Hosptial 87 in the central province of Khanh Hoa as an expanding effort by the U.S. government to provide safe blood products and voluntary counseling and testing services to civilian and military populations in Khanh Hoa and neighboring provinces.

Since 2004, the United States has provided over $400 million for HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, support and care in Vietnam through PEPFAR (President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief).

Admiral Michael H. Anderson, who attended the launch said, “Blood donation is the gift of life, and there is nothing more honorable than giving of one’s self to improve the health and well-being of someone else.” He highlighted the collaborative efforts between the U.S Department of Defense and the Vietnam Military Medical Department, adding, “Together we can feel gratified that we have made the Vietnam military HIV/AIDS program a model program that other programs in the Pacific area can emulate.”