Vietnam: Eva Ceylana and Vivienne Hisleap

Over the last few years, St Stephens AIDS Trust has worked closely with organisations in Vietnam to help improve the knowledge and skills of health care professionals in the care of those with HIV/AIDS. This has enabled a number of health care providers from Chelsea and Westminster NHS Foundation Trust, the opportunity to visit less privileged areas of the country to experience firsthand how their health system works with limited resources and often lack of knowledge and skills. An opportunity arose for two nurses from Thomas Macaulay Ward to participate in an exchange programme with two nurses from the Vung Tau region in southern Vietnam. After a lengthy process of selection we were fortunate enough to be chosen to represent SSAT.

In December 2009, two nurses, one from LeLoi Hospital, and one from Baria Hospital in the Vung Tau Province, came to London to Chelsea and Westminster Hospital for a one week stay. Whilst here, they had the opportunity to shadow the staff on Thomas Macaulay Ward to experience the daily care of patients on an acute HIV inpatient ward, and also in the numerous speciality out-patient clinics.

In March 2010, we travelled to Vietnam to visit and provide education to members of staff in the two hospitals. In LeLoi hospital, although there was no specified HIV or infectious diseases inpatient ward, we had the opportunity to attend numerous HIV outpatient clinics, experiencing counselling provided for a small group of newly diagnosed patients. Although the resources were limited, the aims of these outpatient clinics were in a similar nature to the clinics we offer to newly diagnosed patients in the UK. The clinic was aimed towards safer sex education and adherence to HAART. These sessions were both organised and led by nurses, which, in a less privileged area of the world, was both pioneering and inspirational. The difficulty we experienced in Leloi was the language barrier and the lack of a designated translator.

Baria hospital provided a more holistic experience of HIV inpatient care. They demonstrated a much greater interest in HIV, modes of transmission, prevention, CD4%, post exposure prophylaxis and adherence. A teaching session was organised for a group of approximately 60-80, both student and qualified nurses, from both Baria and their surrounding provinces. We imparted our knowledge and experiences on the HIV cell cycle, HAART and the paramount importance of adherence, and on opportunistic infections. We tried to lessen the stigma which naturally surrounds HIV by sharing our personal experiences working on an acute HIV inpatient ward in the UK. The medical team, consisting of the doctors, anaesthetists and nurses, were thirsty for knowledge and teaching surrounding HIV. We left Baria hospital feeling that some of our teaching surrounding CD$5 and adherence would be implemented and utilised in their ward setting.

This amazing opportunity has given us a greater appreciation for our resources, and the facilities that we are able to provide for our patients. It has opened our eyes to the need for further education and teaching programmes for those in developing countries. By doing so, we, as health care professionals, can make a difference.
Vietnam is a wonderful and scenically beautiful country. The Vietnamese culture is rich and varied, and we found the locals very friendly and generous despite their lack of wealth and possessions. The country needs to be seen to be believed and it really was a once in a lifetime experience.