TREATMENTAS PREVENTION (RM GRANICH, SECTION EDITOR) Enhancing the Benefits of Antiretroviral Therapy in Vietnam: Towards Ending AIDS

Abstract Vietnam has a concentrated HIVepidemic, with the highest HIV prevalence being observed among people who inject drugs (PWID). Based on its experience scaling-up robust HIV interventions, Vietnam aims to further strengthen its re-sponse by harnessing the preventive benefits of antiretroviral therapy (ART). Mathematical modelling suggests that priori-tizing key populations for earlier access to ART, combined with other prevention interventions, may have significant im-pact on the epidemic, cost-effectively reducing new HIV in-fections and deaths. Pilot studies are being conducted to assess feasibility and acceptability of expansion of HIV testing and counselling (HTC) and early ART among key populations and to demonstrate innovative service delivery models to address challenges in uptake of services across the care cascade. Earlier access of key populations to combination prevention interven-tions, combined with sustained political commitment and sup-portive environment for key populations, are essential for maximum impact of ART on the HIVepidemic in Vietnam