In the training course (in-person and online), lecturers and staff of Hanoi Medical University and University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Ho Chi Minh City had the opportunities to share their knowledge, experiences of practicing and implementing Matrix-based group counseling, and fundamental counseling techniques with the trainees.

At the end of the two training sessions, the trainees have learned a lot of theoretical knowledge and counseling skills. Also, they had a chance to share their practical experiences and difficulties that may occur during the process of practicing Matrix-based group counseling and to brainstorm some practical solutions to overcome them. Despite facing challenges, the trainees were very confident to implement Matrix-based group counseling at their MMT clinics in the upcoming time.

According to a study in 2019 of Addiction Technology Transfer Center Network and HIV – University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh city and Life Center at many provinces showed that 50% of MSM/TGW used amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS), 70% used popper with the rates of chemsex are 80% and 90%, respectively. Therefore, it is necessary to equip health workers and community outreach workers (CBOs) with knowledge and counselling skills from basic to advanced.

On 30/3/2021, following the basic training course, Center for Training and Research on Substance Abuse – HIV (CREATA – H) – Hanoi Medical University in collaboration with Center for research for men and gender health (CARMAH) organized an “Chemsex Intervention training” – an intensive course in the financial support of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for health care workers and community outreach workers in the southern provinces (HCMC, Long An and Ba Ria Vung Tau). The training course involved 25 participants, with the aim of enhancing the quality of HIV care services for MSM/TGW.

Attending and speaking at the training course, Dr. Nguyen Thi Minh Tam – Head of Department of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Hanoi Centers for Disease Control and Prevention emphasized the importance of chemsex harm reduction interventions for MSM / TGW community in the current situation of HIV. Health care workers and community outreach workers should be equipped with new knowledge and skills to assist chemsex community because chemsex is a new field with many challenges.

At the training session, BS. Nguyen Tan Thu – an expert in health care for the LGBT community, gave an enthusiastic lecture on the using of multi-substance and how to reduce harm on chemsex in the MSM / TGW community.

By the end of training course, the practitioners were armed with skills and counselling strategies to help chemsexers change their behaviors, also discussed and practised harm reduction intervention including promoting HIV services.

Finally, Assoc. Le Minh Giang, Deputy Director of Center for Training and Research on Substance Abuse – HIV – Hanoi Medical University thanked the participants for their presence and emphasized the important role of health care workers, community outreach workers directly working with key population. He also admitted that Hanoi Medical University will always accompany and support the practitioners, organizations in the future.