Press Release
Cambodian HIV/AIDS Education and Care (CHEC)
June 02, 2008
Every Dog Has Its Day
Rising in the east, the sun is illuminating the whole world new light. In the other corner of the world stand a few hundreds of HIV/AIDS warriors congregating to witness a remarkably emotional event. Muttering from place to place in the crowd baffles the passerby and the nearby inhabitants but a visual image of the red ribbon on their white T-shirts and hats shatters any doubt.
Candlelight’s Day is not only about light of candle but also light of memory, light of emotion, life of spirit, and life of hope for HIV/AIDS sufferers and their families. Years of emotional pain have flown off but the threat of the second wave still haunts each and every Cambodian citizen and is awaiting its timely outbreak if Cambodian nationals try to sweep it under the carpet.
“The today’s event is absolutely essential as it helps reduce stigma and discrimination against PLHIV and is also a means of preventing the imminent second wave of HIV/AIDS among most at risk population (MARP),” said secretary general of National HIV/AIDS Authority (NAA) H.E Dr. Heng Kunthy in his speech delivery on Candlelight Memorial Day in front of Botum Votey Pagoda on May 30.
Notwithstanding the positive messages of Candlelight Memorial Day, several Cambodian people are obsessed with the myth that this event intends to bring honour for PLHIV and thereby inadvertently encourages others to be HIV positive while other disabled veterans have yet to earn such an honourable event in return for their benediction and sacrifice for this nation.
“Its attempt is not to generate honour for PLHIV but to engage them in HIV/AIDS educational campaigns as well as nationwide HIV/AIDS prevention,” rejected secretary general of HIV/AIDS Coordinating Committee (HACC) Dr. Kem Ley, evoking one meaningful question that “what would happen if a HIV-positive female sex worker, occupied with extreme animosity due to the social discrimination against her, decided to retaliate by not notifying her clients to use condoms during their sexual intercourse?”
“If we take care of them, they, in return, take care of us,” he stressed.
This year’s Candlelight Memorial Day is the 9th anniversary in Cambodia and the 25th in the entire world, meaning that not only does Cambodia hold it but the whole world and its aims are to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS, reduce stigma and discrimination against PLHIV and elicit hope for them, said the conspicuous director of Cambodian HIV/AIDS Education and Care (CHEC) Dr. Kasem Kolnary, speaking on pro side of Dr. Kem Ley with the emphasis that PLHIV cannot supersede former disabled soldiers and PLHIV’s participation in the social development cannot overshadow the blood, the heart and the devotion of other veterans.
“It is a must for youngsters and the next descendents to acquire the awareness of HIV/AIDS in Cambodia so as to join hands in putting a brake on the spread of HIV/AIDS and reduce stigma and discrimination against them since in some cases it is not their fault,” said Dr. Kasem Kolnary, raising sound examples of HIV-positive wives infected by their husbands and children infected by their mothers.
Media Contact: Dr. Kasem Kolnary, CHEC director, via office phone number at 023 884 473 or mobile one at 012 945 077 or Communication Manager Oum Chanpanhara at 012 477 017
Cambodian HIV/AIDS Education and Care
#86 Street 608, Boeung Kak II, Toul Kork, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Tel/Fax (855) 023 884 473
Email: chec@online.com.kh
Website: www.checcambodia.org
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