Press Release

Cambodian HIV/AIDS Education and Care (CHEC)

July 07, 2008

Hand-in-Hand Together for Better-and-Better

Following the outbreak and appalling attack of HIV epidemic in Cambodia in 1993, Cambodian government and civil society united within a common purpose; that is to slow down its velocity and eventually eradicate it in the long run.

For nearly 15 years of striving, the endeavour is rewarding and ongoing drop shows up, elevating fighters’ spirit to move ahead. To partake in the overall pleasing outcome, Cambodian HIV/AIDS Education and Care (CHEC) held its annual reflection to release its achievement of three diverse programmes—training, home-based care and media­—at Himawari Hotel on July 01, 2008 with the attendance of its board of directors, community workers and staff.

“417,402 people got HIV/AIDS education; 6,046 received counseling; 2,787 were referred for HIV-blood test; 2,413 HIV-positive people were visited and the other 2,413 were sent for treatment,” reported Doctor Heng Phirum, CHEC’s training coordinator.

As for media programme, CHEC’s media officer Suos Loeung Sokhalay notified that 368 people called in CHEC’s “You Me Must Know” weekly radio programme on FM102MHz; six TV spots were produced and aired for 144 times on TVK and 72 times on CTN; three community forums at Sa Ang, Srey Santhor and Chhouk Operational Districts with a total of 172 participants were held and 13 times of coordination meeting with existing youth clubs occurred within the last 12-months. In addition, Information Education Communication (IEC) materials were produced—20,000 leaflets, 4,000 newsletters, 2,000 posters, 1,000 booklets, 1,000 stickers, 350 T-shirts and 100 caps, added the media officer.

“290 HIV-positive people were hospitalized at referral hospitals; 48 of 486 vulnerable children were HIV-positive, of whom 30 were offered with antiretroviral (ARV) while the rest received opportunistic infection (OI) care; 286 HIV-positive people’s families were supported with kits every month; 2,043 people were tested for HIV, and 107 of them were found positive; 21 of 87 HIV-positive people were found with tuberculosis and five of 84 tuberculosis patients were also HIV positive in their medical check-up,” apprised home-based care coordinator Sim Sophea.

Albeit flourishing HIV/AIDS prevention campaign and NGOs’ lifelong united interaction, relationship crack and deficient involvement from other stakeholders appear, building intense impediments to the growth of HIV/AIDS prevention programmes including that of CHEC.

“Some local authorities are unwilling to cooperate and classify HIV/AIDS programmes out-of-their-business task,” said training officer Minnuon Srapchantha, adding that, “some NGOs, to achieve its determined objectives to satisfy the donors, violate others.”

As far as the hidden progressive discrepancy is concerned, the government has interfered to put a halt and bring back harmony. “For the time being, the government is working on Harmonization policy to forestall the probable conflicts between organizations working on HIV/AIDS,” said Doctor Srey Mony, a member of CHEC’s board of director.

While several citizens seem to less and less focus on HIV/AIDS prevention after witnessing the constant declining HIV prevalence, a second wave is flying around and undivided attention must be promptly paid to most-at-risk population (MARP) such as men having sex with men (MSM), direct and indirect sex workers, injecting drug users (IDU), mobile workers and out-of-school youth.

“Owing to the mobility of workers at border, consensual unprotected sex between HIV-positive and HIV-negative people and promiscuous lifestyles of MSM and out-of-school youth, the new-fangled wave of HIV prevalence will stealthily strike Cambodia in a few years’ time once again,” alerted Doctor Tia Phalla, CHEC’s consultant.

Concerning Doctor Tia Phalla’s prospective insight, CHEC’s director Dr. Kasem Kolnary acceded to it and enthusiastically suggested all institutions involved regardless governmental or non-governmental join Hand-in-Hand for Better-and-Better results, or else not only the population but those working on HIV/AIDS would be victimized by this disease.   

In her speech delivery, she also expressed her weighty gratitude to CHEC’s donors—EED, CAFOD, CCODP, SCIAF, TROCAIRE, PACT/Community Reach Grant and WFP— and sincere thanks to Ministry of Health, Ministry of Interior, National AIDS Authority, National Centre for HIV/AIDS, Dermatology and STD, Provincial Health Departments of Kampong Chhnang, Prey Veng, Kandal, Kampot and Kampong Cham, national and international NGOs, UN agencies, CHEC’s board of directors, CHEC’s staff and community volunteers for their commitment and effort.  

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