1. To describe the process and outcomes of the implementation of the Directive 54-CT/TW and 3 related guiding documents in 12 provinces/ municipalities (including 3 project provinces); challenges and drawbacks, and causality of achieved outcomes as well as challenges and drawbacks; 2. To evaluate the impact of Directive 54 and the three documents on HIV/AIDS control leadership in 12 provinces, including comparison of the 3 Project provinces and 9 non-project provinces (Project 40232); 3. To draw lessons learnt and recommend measures to further improve the effectiveness of Directive 54 and the three documents in the coming time, and strengthen local and national leadership in HIV/AIDS control.

To continue creating changes in the sense of law respect and compliance through law propaganda, dissemination and education on 12 March 2008 the Prime Minister signed Decision 37/2008/QD-TTg to approve the Program on law dissemination and education in 2008-2012. To ensure effective implementation of Decision 37/2008/QD-TTg in the health sector, on 23 March 2010 the National Commission for Ideology and Propaganda (NCIP) and Ministry of Health (MOH) signed the “Program on cooperation to implement political missions and resolve sensitive and urgent issues in terms of ideology among staff and people in health care, protection and promotion”. The key contents of this program are to boost dissemination and education to raise awareness among leaders of Party committees at levels, government authorities, staff and people in health care, protection and promotion. MOH assigns the Health Strategy and Policy Institute (HSPI) to cooperate with the MOH Cabinet and Legislation Department to conduct the study “Evaluating current situation of resources and needs of training propaganda staff on policies in the health sector” at 77 units/institutions attached to MOH and 63 provincial health departments. The aim is to learn about current situation of resources and needs of training propaganda staff on policies in the health sector and thereby identify training needs for propaganda personnel.

To help provide evidence to effectively carry out Prime Ministerial Decision 38/QD - TTg dated 8/1/2008 on “Regulations on cooperation in prevention cross-border HIV/AIDS transmission”, the Health Strategy and Policy Institute (HSPI), MOH Vietnam cooperate with the HIV/AIDS/STDs Prevention and Control Centers, Department of Preventive Medicine, Ministry of Health of Laos to conduct the joint study “Risks of HIV transmission in some localities along Viet Nam – Laos border: Current situation and solutions”. The study is carried out in Mar to December 2009 with funding by the Coordination Office of the Infectious Diseases Prevention and Control Project in Sub-Mekong Region.