Since 1994, Cambodian HIV/AIDS Education and Care (CHEC), formerly Quaker Services Australia, has been reducing the spread of HIV/AIDS and helping Cambodians cope with the epidemic. Training people is its core service. And since inception, more than 10,000 people have received CHEC is HIV/AIDS training.

Mobilising community resources and supporting people already affected has proven the most sustainable way of dealing with TB/HIV/AIDS and STIs. It is the hallmark of CHEC is work and it is achieved in partnership with the Provincial Health Department and the National AIDS Office. The organisations work together planning and implementing programs with local communities. CHEC also works with local and international NGOs exchanging information and experience and creating complementary services. 

CHEC programs contribute to the reduction of HIV/AIDS in Cambodia through long term advocacy and community mobilization. The key approach is to assist the community to link their efforts to reduce stigma and discrimination against PLWHA and in the provision of counseling, care and support.

CHEC is the leading advocate for community action against HIV/AIDS, bringing together health centre is staff and community personnel to work together and to engage the other groups to minimize the impact of HIV/AIDS. It leads, strengthens and supports an expanded response to the epidemic that will prevent the spread of HIV, provide care and support for those infected and affected by the disease, reduce the vulnerability of individuals and communities to HIV/AIDS, and alleviate the impact of the epidemic.

The partnership between the community members and the HBC teams assisted in making the project activities reach out to increased numbers of people at minimum cost, as the cost was shared with the target group.

CHEC programs work towards reaching the Cambodian Millennium Development Goals, particularly in response to combating HIV/AIDS, eradicating extreme hunger and poverty, promoting gender equality and empowering women.

All CHEC programs are designed to align closely to national strategies. For example the provision of training to community health care workers and community volunteers to prevent HIV/AIDS is in accordance with the National Strategic Plan III, which asserts the need to strengthen and expand the prevention, care and support for nation wide programs including Home Based Care. The provision of livelihood training and micro-enterprise grants to HIV positive women is in line with the Royal Government’s National Strategic Development Plan of “poverty reduction and economic growth through enhancement of agriculture sector development”, and also contributes to the implementation of the 5-year strategy of the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, Neary Rattanak 3 (2009-14), "Strategic Area 1: Economic Empowerment of Women".

Objectives for 2013-2016:

Over the next three years CHEC programme objectives include:

1.      15,462 Out of School Youth will receive education on reproductive health, HIV, life skills, and gender issues resulting in reduced HIV rates and risky behaviours, and increased gender equality.

2.      PLHIV will benefit from home visits, referrals to care, health education, and the building of collaborative support networks in 5 districts leading to reduced mortality, new infections, and stigma.

3.      Extremely poor persons in 7 districts will experience improvements in health, education, and income through improved social protection, income generation, and material and community support.

4.      Women and girls subject to, or at risk of GBV in 4 districts will experience reduced rates of GBV through community education programmes, and improved access to and use of support and intervention services.

Target Beneficiary Groups:

·         Out of School youths

·         Women subjected to or at risk of gender based violence

·         People living with HIV and AIDS

·         Orphaned Vulnerable Children

·         Extremely poor men, women and children with ID poor 1 and 2

Target areas:

Staff and volunteers:

All staff are Cambodians and occasionally we recruit expatriate consultant and volunteers.

Total Current Staff in 2013: 18 (F: 10)

CHEC has one main office in Phnom Penh and sub-offices in Kampong Tralach, Boribo, Sa Ang, Ta Khmao, Srey Santhor and Preah Sdach ODs.

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