Chhim Khin Dareth, a spokesperson for the National AIDS Authority (NAA), shares the body’s HIV/AIDS message to people along Veng Sreng Blvd in Phnom Penh on December 1, 2023. - Phnom Penh Post/ANN
PHNOM PENH (Phnom Penh Post/ANN): The Cambodian government, in close collaboration with the Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis (TB) and Malaria, is set to allocate over $10 million annually for HIV/AIDS treatment.
The National AIDS Authority (NAA) also aims to reduce the daily HIV infection rate to below one person by 2025. An estimated 12,000 individuals living with undiagnosed HIV/AIDS have not yet received treatment.
This goal has kindled optimism in a woman who has lived with HIV for over a decade, envisioning a future where no one unknowingly lives with HIV, as she once did.
The interviewee, a 39-year-old who spoke on condition of anonymity, reflects on the year 2014 when, battling a severe fever, she sought medical assistance. Turning to a village medic in Roka commune of Battambang province’s Sangke district, she received a syringe injection during that visit. The unlicensed medic has since been prosecuted for “misconduct leading to the spread of HIV”.
“After a few days of receiving the injection, my fever subsided. Astonishingly, less than two weeks later, people throughout the village found they had unwittingly contracted HIV from injections received at the medic’s residence. I chose to undergo a blood test which confirmed my infection with HIV,” she recounts.
She says she was pregnant at the time, and her baby also contracted HIV. Nevertheless, both she and her child diligently follow regular antiretroviral drug treatment, ensuring they never miss a dose.
Her husband remains uninfected. Furthermore, she has another son, slightly over a year old, who did not contract HIV. Upon his birth, doctors prescribed medication for him to take for a month and a half, and he has not required further treatment since.
HIV-free wellness
“My husband remains free of HIV. Despite regular blood tests conducted by doctors, no signs of infection have been detected, and he doesn’t require medication like I do. Initially, I worried about my son contracting HIV from me, but blood tests have shown no signs of infection. I’ve been on medication for an extended period, and I’ve observed that my skin has become brighter than before,” she says.
She mentions that despite consistently taking prescribed medication, her condition limits her ability to seek employment outside her hometown. Presently, she relies on her husband, employed as a construction worker, but their livelihood faces challenges due to his job’s instability. Emphasising the importance of a supportive partner, she advises everyone to seek professional medical care to avoid the regrets she has faced.
Soy Chandary, a representative of the Cambodian Women for Peace and Development, a local NGO, said the association collaborates with individuals living with HIV, receiving support from the Global Fund through the government. They currently provide various free support services, including HIV blood tests, prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission services and counselling support.
She adds that the NGO actively engages with women in entertainment establishments, such as karaoke venues, massage parlours and beer gardens. Regular visits to these locations aim to enhance understanding of HIV prevention methods. If individuals are willing to undergo a blood test, the association provides this service free of charge.
Chandary underscores that those engaging in high-risk behaviours, such as having multiple sexual partners and unprotected sex, are most at risk for HIV transmission. Certain populations, including sex workers, women in karaoke establishments, and men who have sex with men (MSM), face the highest risk. - Phnom Penh Post/ANN
