Vietnam’s L2FH joins efforts to prevent HIV AIDS in South Sudan

Vietnam’s L2FH joins efforts to prevent HIV/AIDS in South Sudan

PANO - To mark World AIDS Day (December 1), Vietnam’s Level-2 Field Hospital (L2FH) Rotation 7 teamed with U.N. agencies, civil-military agencies, and level-1 hospitals in the Unity Sector to conduct large-scale dissemination, medical, and community activities at the Bentiu-based IDP camp, which is home to over 100,000 civilians.

Vietnam’s L2FH enhances first-aid capacity for U.N. peacekeepers in South Sudan

A special working day of Vietnam’s L2FH Rotation 7

UNMISS Force Commander visits Vietnam’s L2FH Rotation 7

Under the program, the hospital carried out HIV testing, community health counseling, and medical support for camp residents. Personnel from Pakistan Engineering Company, the Mongolia Infantry Battalion, the Ghana Infantry Battalion, and the Ghana Police Unit joined their counterparts from Vietnam in these activities.

Residents in the IDP camp receive practical gifts.

HIV/AIDS prevention leaflets distributed to the community

The Vietnamese hospital also provided HIV rapid test kits and worked directly with medical staff from level-1 hospitals to guide counseling, sample collection, and rapid testing for nearly 200 randomly selected residents. The hospital also designed and printed 500 HIV/AIDS awareness leaflets with simple, accessible information for the camp population. More than 200 small gifts were prepared to encourage participation in testing and awareness activities.

Apart from HIV testing, health counseling, HIV prevention information, camp residents also received basic medical supplies such as hand sanitizer to help improve hygiene and disease prevention in the densely populated camp.

HIV/AIDS testing and counseling for the community

As part of the program, the hospital’s Youth Union Organization organized HIV/AIDS communication activities to enhance engagement and outreach. Young peacekeepers created handmade photo booths on the theme of World AIDS Day, attracting many residents to take photos and spread positive messages. Bulletin boards, posters, and hashtags were designed in line with the 2025 theme of “Solidarity is Strength – Together to End AIDS.”

Before the community campaign, the Internal Medicine - Infectious Diseases Department held professional training sessions for all staff, covering HIV transmission routes, prevention measures, and post-exposure protocols; stressing early testing and ARV treatment adherence per U.N. and Ministry of National Defense guidelines. The hospital also prepared logos, posters, and communication materials to display onsite and share with level-1 hospitals in Unity Sector, creating a unified information network for the campaign.

Youth Union members of Vietnam’s field hospital participate in HIV/AIDS outreach alongside partner units.

Partner units in the Bentiu area also take part in the series of meaningful activities.

Medical staff from level-1 hospitals of partner units join the event.

These creative communication products helped make HIV/AIDS messages more accessible and engaging. Each Vietnamese peacekeeper became an active health orator who could protect themselves in a high-risk environment while spreading essential knowledge to the community.

The strong participation of Vietnam’s L2FH Rotation 7 contributed to Vietnam’s commitment to supporting the U.N. goal of ending AIDS by 2030 and showcased the humanitarian, responsible, and professional spirit of Vietnamese peacekeeping force.

The event was coordinated alongside other local activities in South Sudan by UNFPA and partner organizations, with the participation of South Sudanese authorities.