PHNOM PENH: Health workers took Cambodia’s sexual health campaign beyond traditional clinics on Saturday (July 18), bringing free sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing awareness directly to parks, cafés, markets and popular nightlife areas, as part of ongoing efforts to encourage more young people to seek confidential healthcare without fear or stigma.
The outreach campaign, organised by AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) Cambodia, marked a shift from waiting for patients to visit clinics to actively meeting people where they gather, particularly young people and populations at greater risk of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.
Throughout the day, health workers, peer educators and volunteers visited public venues to promote free testing, distribute educational materials and connect people with services at the AHF Wellness Centre.
Events continued throughout the weekend, until Monday (July 20), the morning of the FIFA World Cup final.
The day’s activities began at the wellness centre in Phnom Penh, where representatives from partner organisations discussed Cambodia’s progress in HIV prevention and the importance of expanding access to sexual and reproductive healthcare.
The campaign then moved into communities, with outreach teams visiting public spaces during the afternoon before continuing awareness activities around Walk Street and the riverside in the evening.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, AHF country programme manager Dr Chan Phanna noted many sexually transmitted infections can be successfully treated if detected early, but stigma and embarrassment continue to discourage people from seeking medical advice.
“Many people still hesitate to seek testing because they fear judgement or discrimination. Our message is simple: sexual health is part of overall health, and no one should feel ashamed to come for testing,” he said.
“We want to bring these services closer to communities, especially young people, so they know that testing and treatment are free, confidential and available without discrimination,” he added.
The campaign included youth mobilisation, peer education, social media promotion and the distribution of leaflets containing information about HIV prevention, STI testing, condoms and appointments for health services.
Organisers deployed tuk-tuks and motorcycles to help connect people with HIV counselling and testing services, antiretroviral treatment and other sexual health programmes.
The initiative builds on AHF Cambodia’s broader effort to encourage people to seek professional care rather than ignore symptoms or attempt self-treatment.
The AHF Wellness Centre in Toul Kork provides free testing and treatment for HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhoea and syphilis, while also offering pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), free condoms and other sexual health services. The centre operates seven days a week from 8am to 5pm.
Although many sexually transmitted infections are curable, health experts say they often remain undiagnosed because some infections cause few or no symptoms, while others go untreated because patients are reluctant to discuss sexual health.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than one million people aged between 15 and 49 acquire one of four curable sexually transmitted infections every day worldwide, including syphilis, gonorrhoea, chlamydia and trichomoniasis.
WHO has also warned that antimicrobial-resistant “supergonorrhoea” is becoming an increasing global public health concern, making early diagnosis and professionally guided treatment more important than ever.
Cambodia has made significant progress in tackling HIV, becoming the first country in Asia and the Pacific to achieve the global 95-95-95 HIV targets. However, public health experts caution that success against HIV does not eliminate the continued threat posed by other sexually transmitted infections.
Young people remain particularly vulnerable because of gaps in sexual and reproductive health knowledge.
UNFPA Cambodia has previously warned that inadequate knowledge can leave adolescents and young adults more exposed to sexually transmitted infections, while a 2023 biological and behavioural surveillance survey found that 45% of surveyed men who have sex with men and 45% of transgender women were infected with chlamydia, gonorrhoea or syphilis.
AHF Cambodia believes confidential, community-based services can help overcome many of the barriers preventing people from seeking care.
“AHF Cambodia is committed to reaching key populations — especially gay and bisexual men, and other people at heightened risk — by expanding HIV testing, ensuring treatment as prevention and promoting condoms as affordable, effective tools,” Dr Phanna said previously.
“By focusing on those most vulnerable, we can sustain Cambodia’s progress and move closer to ending HIV.”
Organisers said Saturday’s campaign was designed not only to raise awareness but also to make conversations about sexual health more accessible and less intimidating by bringing information and services directly into everyday community settings.
Their message to young Cambodians was straightforward: having concerns about sexual health should never be a reason for embarrassment, and seeking timely testing could prevent a treatable infection from becoming a more serious health problem. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
