Participants pose for a group photo at the workshop on HIV/AIDS awareness on December 27. MoEYS
In a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport and the National AIDS Authority (NAA), awareness about HIV/AIDS is being heightened among educators in both public and private schools. The aim is to equip them to teach health education effectively, contributing to the broader goal of eradicating AIDS in Cambodia.
On December 27, a workshop on HIV/AIDS awareness, covering sexual trends, gender identity, presentation and characteristics, was conducted by the ministry’s Department of Health Education in partnership with the NAA, supported by UNAIDS in Cambodia.
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Presided over by Kim Sethany, permanent secretary of state at the education ministry, the conference welcomed officials, NAA members and teachers from 57 relevant institutions in Phnom Penh.
The ministry said the event sought to cultivate empathy and create a supportive environment for students and individuals living with HIV/AIDS. The ultimate goal is to empower them to lead healthy lives free from prejudice or discrimination. This involves boosting teachers’ confidence in addressing health education, covering aspects such as sexual and reproductive health for their students.
The government recognises the significant concern of HIV spread among young people, with most current demographic changes linked to unsafe behaviours and activities.
The NAA said it plans to allocate $42 million over three years (2024-26) for the AIDS and Tuberculosis Programme. This initiative, starting in early 2024, aims to achieve a substantial reduction in the spread of these diseases.
NAA chairman Ieng Moly outlined the country’s comprehensive goals in combating AIDS. Firstly, the nation has established a people-centric AIDS programme, encouraging collaboration among policymakers, service providers and communities, with a specific focus on supporting HIV-positive and vulnerable populations.
He said that secondly the Kingdom distinguishes itself as the sole country where government agencies closely collaborate with civil society, including individuals living with HIV/AIDS, stakeholders and development partners, to strengthen the national HIV response system.
The NAA showcases its commitment by significantly increasing its counterpart fund to the Global Fund, allocating $5 million annually for the years 2021, 2022 and 2023, specifically for the procurement of antiretroviral therapy.
Additionally, Cambodia extends social protection benefits to individuals living with HIV/AIDS, demonstrating its commitment to social welfare.
The Kingdom successfully reached the 90-90-90 goal by ensuring that 90 per cent of individuals with HIV were aware of their status, 90 per cent of those diagnosed with the virus received continuous antiretroviral therapy, and 90 per cent of those undergoing antiretroviral therapy achieved viral suppression – three years ahead of the 2020 deadline.
The country is now actively pursuing a similar 95-95-95 goal to end AIDS by 2025 as its sixth strategic milestone.
