Santé (Montrouge, France)
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Santé (Montrouge, France) · Jul 2009
[Implementation of a continuum of care for people living with HIV/AIDS in Hanoi (Vietnam)].
Caring for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) encompasses various tasks, from prevention to palliative care. It involves a set of consistent and coordinated actions. This article presents the first free-of-charge management programme including antiretroviral treatment in Vietnam (as opposed to research and evaluation programmes). ⋯ To be able to succeed in implementing the continuum of care necessary for treating HIV/AIDS within its institutions, Vietnam can apply the lessons of international experience, adapted to fit local constraints and the social, cultural and political context. The shortcomings encountered in this endeavour shows how difficult it is for this country to implement such a complex set of measures at an accelerated pace. They should not, however, hide or minimize the great efforts, the vigour, and the capacity to adapt already demonstrated by local participants.