Meeting Targets and Maintaining Epidemic Control (EpiC)

Meeting Targets and Maintaining Epidemic Control (EpiC) is a five-year, global project funded by the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The project is closing the remaining gaps in Vietnam’s efforts to meet its 95-95-95 epidemic control targets: that 95% of people living with HIV know their status; 95% of people who know their status are on treatment; and among those treated, 95% have a suppressed viral load and reduced likelihood of passing on the virus.

REACHING HIGH-RISK POPULATIONS

The project finds high-risk individuals and screens for HIV by implementing online and in-person outreach, offering testing, and linking those who are diagnosed as HIV positive with tailored treatment options and support, such as same-day or multi-month drug dispensing, mobile services, and community support networks. The project also connects at-risk HIV-negative individuals with pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), a game-changing HIV preventive medication. 

INSTITUTIONALIZING A PUBLIC HEALTH RESPONSE 

The project works with provincial health authorities to strengthen their HIV programs. This includes improving their monitoring of the HIV epidemic by conducting regular reviews of provincial HIV programs, and expanding their use of domestic financing to pay for HIV treatment.

IMPACT

Through its support to provincial HIV programs, the project expects to provide nearly 40,000 HIV-positive patients with tailored care. In addition, the project will reach and test 23,000 high-risk people, and link those who need it with care options. 

TARGETED LOCALITIES

The project works at the national level and focuses work with provincial health authorities and local communities in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Dong Nai, Tay Ninh, Tien Giang, and Quang Ninh provinces.