On 25/12, BoM of Luong Van Can Fund organized the session “Understanding HIV/ AIDS issues” to help LVC students gain a better understanding of HIV/ AIDS. The session was moderated by Mr Nguyen Anh Phong, an HIV/ AIDS specialist in Vietnam who has worked for 20 years in handling HIV/ AIDS issues, founded “Nhà mình” clinic (Phòng khám Nhà Mình) and served as the administrator of the Youtube channel The story of Phong (Chuyện của Phong).

Throughout the whole session, speaker Nguyen Anh Phong interacted with and answered queries from LVC students about HIV/ AIDS, as well as the methods to handle and protect themselves in practical situations.

HIV/ AIDS and its transmission

The speaker shared that HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that attacks the body’s immune system and was identified in the 90s. It does not kill the patient directly but makes the body weak and unable to fight off other infections. AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) is the most severe phase of HIV infection. People with AIDS have such badly damaged immune systems that they get an increasing number of severe illnesses called opportunistic infections, including cancer. HIV is present in many secretions including oral, intestinal, genital fluids and breast milk. 4 factors must take place for HIV transmission to occur: Output (which must be body fluids in which HIV can thrive) – Windows (through a rupture or penetration of the skin) – Sufficient loads (must be sufficient levels of virus in the body fluids) – Vital virus.

A safe intercourse in order to protect self-health and community health

Based on the speaker’s sharing, unprotected sex, homosexual intercourse (especially between men), promiscuity and, intercourse with partners of unclear HIV status may lead toHIV transmission. Moreover, Mr Anh Phong stated that HIV transmissioncould be prevented by:

• Using condoms and preventing them from breaking after intercourse
• Taking Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) PrEP
• Not being in direct contact with the body fluids and blood of patients when having an open wound
• Avoiding sharing personal items in order not to be infected by other transmitted diseases
• Those hoping to have childrenshould test for sexually transmitted diseases
• Pregnant women with HIV should take HIV medicine during pregnancy to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV

Mr Nguyen Anh Phong also corrected misconceptions about HIV, such as stages of the infection or care for HIV/ AIDS patients. Mr Phong said that it is difficult to get infected HIV when living with an HIV/ AIDS patient especially if the patient understands his or her conditions and follows the prescribed treatment Even when the patient bleeds, infection is unlikely due to the low viral load. HIV cannot be transmitted through daily tasks such as dining, swimming and camping. Different vaccines target different diseases  – for example, the HPV vaccine cannot prevent HIV virus!

PrEP and PEP are medicines to prevent HIV. PrEP stands for pre-exposure prophylaxis. It is for people who have yet to contract HIV but are at very high risk of getting it. PEP stands for post-exposure prophylaxis. PEP is for people who have possibly been exposed to HIV. It is only for emergency situations.

The session captured the interest of LVC students via panel discussion and the practical sharing style of Mr Anh Phong. After the session, there were lots of students who hoped to contribute to the projects organized by the  “Nhà mình” clinic of Mr Nguyen Anh Phong. “Nhà mình” clinic (Phòng khám Nhà Mình) operates ontwo types of platforms,online and offline, and hadexperts in caring for patients and providing healthcare information regarding HIV/ AIDS issues.

Luong Van Can Fund would like to express appreciation to Mr Nguyen Anh Phong for hissupport in providing key information about HIV/ AIDS to LVC students. We hope that the session has helped LVC students understand HIV/ AIDS betterand learn aboutsuitable protection methods for personal health and community health also.

Reported by LVCF Media team