OCTOBER 2007 — The IMPACT Project, managed by FHI, was one of the first to work with the Government of Vietnam on HIV issues. The project is recognized for its direct technical assistance and extensive contribution to capacity strengthening at national and provincial levels, including its technical and financial support for the Vietnamese government’s first behavioral surveillance survey. In addition, IMPACT/Vietnam supported the Ministry of Health’s efforts to develop HIV care and treatment policies, procedures, and guidelines to support the roll-out of ART and establish a national palliative care policy.

IMPACT/Vietnam initiated prevention interventions for injecting drug users, female sex workers and their clients, and men who have sex with men, and modeled outreach approaches to these populations. The project also assisted the government in establishing voluntary counseling and testing sites and training HIV counselors. In addition, it led the development of the continuum of care model for HIV care, treatment, and support; established the first integrated district hospital HIV outpatient clinic in Vietnam; managed the first shipment of US Government-funded antiretroviral drugs into the country; established the first US Government-supported ART site; and developed an adherence support system.