Fight against Aids efficient in Cambodia

Cambodge Soir
04-08-2008

Every two years UNAID Spublishes a report on the “global Aids epidemic". Cambodia scored positively with a low contaminationrate of only 0.9% of the population.

The UNAIDS report is basedon field surveys carried out between January 2006 and December 2007. TheKingdom’s results bring hope. The number ofPeople with Aids decreasedfrom 1.2% of the population in 2003 to 0.9% , representing 64,750 patients inthe 15-49 year old age bracket.

The population most at risk, subject to largeprevalence campaigns, have adopted responsible behaviours in terms ofprotection. 98.99% of sex workersstated that they used condoms for each sexual engagement.Homosexuals are also better informed, with 86% of couples using condoms. The government prevalence campaigns have yieldedgood results.

The report stressessignificant progress in terms of medical treatment and patient care. 87% of patients now survive the illness followinganti-retroviral treatment. Therefore the mortalityrate has decreased and patients enjoy a better quality of life.

Nevertheless, this positive trend could be reversed due to a lowering ofthe level of vigilance, especially among the populations at risk. The report advocates several measures to maintainthe continuation of low rates:targeting of sensitive populations such as intravenous drug users or orphans whooften do not receive regular medical checks. Medical access is also very different acrossthe entire country in terms of thelocation of medical facilities but also in terms of costs. More should be done for under-privilegedpopulations.

Cambodia has spent a total of US$ 44 million since2006 in the fight against the HIV virus, less than Thailand (US$ 199.6 million) but morethan the Philippines (US$ 7.6 million). But there is one negativeaspect to this overall good situation: private donors finance 87% of this amount. The report also highlighted the risk of an Aidssurge if donors were to stop their financing.