Vietnam Women's Union

In need of cozy embrace

10/02/2014

Women and children are still considerably vulnerable groups that are susceptible to HIV in Vietnam. The number of women contracting the disease is increasing. Many of them lose their lives, while others still strive to overcome their illness while coping with living in stigma, alienation, and a discriminatory environment. They need to receive the sympathy and understanding of the community, who should be helping them manage their difficult circumstances.

Improving both material and spiritual conditions for women and children with HIV and giving them reasons to live meaningfully hasbeen a concern of the Vietnam Women’s Union (VWU) for many years.

The VWU pays great attention to the information, communication and education (IEC) activities. WUs of different levels collaborate with local health care systems to organize communication campaigns to disseminate necessary information about HIV/AIDS prevention and control, focusing on areas where many people have to move far from home to attain employment, tourist areas, high risk target groups.In the communes with high concentration of people with HIV/AIDS, the Union and other relevant agencies have collaborated in many instances to meet people living or affected with the disease as well as those at a high risk of HIV infection, to facilitate the establishment of models and clubs for people with HIV and their family members.Many clubs have played a significant role in helping those affected and at risk such as “Khat vong tinh thuong” (Aspiration for affection) in Kim Son district, Ninh Binh province, “Hoa huong duong” (Sun Flower) in My Duc, Hanoi, and “Dong cam” (Sympathy) club in Nam Dinh province…

Most notably, in 2009, the Vietnam Women’s Union launched a model titled “Mai am tinh than” (Affection Home) to assist women and children living with HIV. It involves creating network and connections of self-help groups and clubs for people with HIV in Hanoi and surrounding provinces.

Ms Xuan (in Ninh Binh) said that the most purposeful aspect of this model is helping women with HIV overcome HIV stigma, which allows them to live with confidence and happiness and helps them reintegrate into the community. Accordingly, they disseminate useful knowledge learned through training courses to enhance awareness about HIV within the local community and help others living with HIV. Thanks to the support of the VWU and other actors, the sympathy and understanding from neighbours and community members, many women living and affected with HIV and their families have managed their difficult circumstances. Hopefully, more people will join together in kindness to help people with HIV overcome their difficulties.

*Names of characters have been altered*