In the early 1990s and 2000s, HIV/AIDS swept through Vietnam like a storm, bringing fear, loss, and devastation to countless families. Back then, the disease was seen as a death sentence, a mysterious and incurable threat in a time of limited awareness and scarce resources.

But on the night of December 10, the Ministry of Health held a ceremony to reflect on how far the country has come - culminating in the National Journalism Awards for HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control. At the event, Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Lien Huong emphasized that HIV/AIDS remains a pressing public health issue in every country, including Vietnam.

The first recorded HIV case in Vietnam appeared in 1990. Now, 35 years later, Vietnam has reversed the trajectory of the epidemic. Through coordinated efforts across all levels of government and civil society, the country has successfully brought the disease under control - becoming a beacon of success recognized by global health experts.

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A patient receives treatment at Nhan Ai Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Organizing Committee

According to Deputy Minister Huong, the mode of transmission has shifted significantly in recent years. Sexual transmission now accounts for 73.6% of new infections, with 83.6% of those cases involving male patients - particularly among men who have sex with men. Young people aged 16 to 29 are especially vulnerable, accounting for 46.7% of cases in 2023 and 37.7% in 2024.

By 2024, Vietnam’s progress toward the global UNAIDS 95-95-95 goals reached 87.3% diagnosed, 78.9% on treatment, and 96% with viral suppression - surpassing Asia-Pacific regional averages and approaching global benchmarks. These figures underscore the effectiveness of the country’s interventions and the determined leadership of both the government and the public health sector.

The Ministry of Health noted that Vietnam is now one of only four countries - alongside the UK, Germany, and Switzerland - recognized for providing world-class HIV/AIDS treatment. Over 96% of people living with HIV in Vietnam who are on antiretroviral (ARV) therapy have achieved viral suppression. This means they are healthy, capable of working and contributing to society, and, most importantly, unable to transmit the virus sexually - a fact captured in the global health message “U=U” (Undetectable = Untransmittable).

Celebrating journalism and compassion

The first-ever National Journalism Awards for HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control received over 1,200 entries in just three months, reflecting strong media engagement in the issue.

The awards also honored pioneers - those who dared to experiment, innovate, and advocate to save lives.

Among them was Dr. Truong Huu Khanh, who introduced an unconventional yet life-saving method: splitting ARV tablets to treat HIV-positive children. His approach opened a new door of hope for thousands of lives once deemed untreatable.

The awards also spotlighted healthcare workers who quietly dedicated their youth to the harshest environments imaginable - such as Hospital 09, known as the final stop for some of the most fragile HIV/AIDS patients in Vietnam.

According to the organizers, this year’s entries marked a clear shift in the way HIV/AIDS is portrayed: more scientific, more positive, and more human.

Phuong Thuy