To mark VietPride month, on October 22, Acting Consul General Robert Greenan joined a live-streamed event hosted by USAID-supported community health care clinic My Home. In his remarks, A-CG Greenan celebrated Vietnam’s dynamic LGBTQIA+ community and recognized its important role in advancing access to care among LGBTQIA+ — even amid the challenges of COVID-19. Through USAID’s Healthy Markets project implemented by PATH, key population-led social enterprises and private clinics have grown and strengthened their health services since 2014 and become an integral contributor to Vietnam’s COVID-19 response while maintaining community access to essential HIV primary care services.
The livestream, which had 3,300-plus direct views and a total of 26,000-plus views one day after being aired on My Home clinic’s Facebook page, discussed VietPride, sexual health, HIV services including pre-exposure prophylaxis, and other popular topics. In addition, USAID/Vietnam Mission Director Ann Marie Yastishock delivered recorded remarks at a second live-streamed VietPride event, hosted by private clinic Bien Viet and the Vietnam Network of Transgender People with support from USAID/PATH Healthy Markets. In her remarks, MD Yastishock affirmed the U.S. Government’s commitment to supporting Vietnam’s LGBTQIA+ community.
Pride month is an important milestone on the journey toward accelerating LGBTQIA+ rights, including health care rights, in Vietnam and across the world. VietPride is one of the biggest events for Vietnam’s LGBTQIA+ community and presents an excellent opportunity for key population-led clinics to promote pre-exposure prophylaxis, HIV testing, HIV self-testing, and other available services across the country.