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H.E. Senior Minister Ieng Mouly, Chairman of the National AIDS Authority, on October 13-14, 2014, led a delegation to monitor the current situation in the response to HIV and AIDS in Preah Sihanouk province. He was joined by top managers, officials and staff of the National AIDS Authority. The aim was to fully understand the current situation on the spread of HIV, and the response and challenges at sub-national level in the fight against HIV. This would help developing plans at national and sub-national levels.

 

On October 13, at 2:00 p.m., the delegation met with local people living with HIV who were severely affected by the epidemic  at Prey Nup District referral hospital of Veal Rihn Commune. Also  participating were members of the local authority, public health officials and staff of NGO's who have been directly working with AIDS patients and key affected populations. In an exchange of views on living conditions, treatment services and assistance provided by the local authority and NGOs, some points were raised on the current situation at the local level which had not been  mentioned in the reports on the fight against HIV/AIDS so far.

 

The delegation then  monitored the volunteering finger prick test at entertainment centers in Preah Sihanouk Ville at 4^th and 3^rd Quarters conducted by NGOs with good cooperation from local authorities, public health officials and owners of the entertainment centers.

 

On October 14, H.E. Senior Minister presided over an AIDS Committee meeting with the participation of top managers and officials from NAA, the Deputy Governor of Preah Sihanouk province, top managers of the Provincial Public Health Department and representatives of NGO's that have been working with people living with HIV and key affected populations in Preah Sihanouk province.

 

H.E. Senior Minister listened to the welcoming remarks and presentations on the current situation in the response to HIV in Preah Sihanouk province delivered by the secretariat of the provincial AIDS committee and representatives of NGOs. H.E. Senior Minister mentioned  the success in Cambodia's fight against AIDS  which  has gained acknowledgment and praise internationally. H. E. Senior Minister also praised the provincial authority, public health officials and staff of NGO's in Preah Sihanouk province who have been working very hard to significantly reduce the number of new infection cases and have been successful in the fight against AIDS.

 

There is concern about a second wave of HIV/AIDS spreading through negligence, because of the successes so far and lack of information in the prevention of infection among youth. H.E. Senior Minister recommended that the Provincial AIDS Committee along with authorities at all levels, the Public Health Department and NGO's further continue their activities such as education and public awareness on the prevention of HIV infection and encourage people to use condoms universally. The meeting was adjoined at 11:00 a.m.

 

Then, H.E. Senior Minister, Chairman of the National AIDS Authority along with the accompanying officials met with HIV patients who were being treated at the provincial referral hospital to understand their living conditions.

 

On the road back to Phnom Penh, the delegation met with a family affected by AIDS who have received social support in Samrong commune, Prey Nup District.

 

The delegation concluded its mission having gathered good information to understand the current situation about the spread of HIV. This will be used in developing planned responses to HIV/AIDS at both national and sub-national levels, and implement the 7-point strategy of the Royal Government and achieve the 3.0 goals in the fight against AIDS: zero infections, zero discrimination and zero deaths.

 

 

H. E. Senior Minister Ieng Mouly, Chairman of the National AIDS Authority Leads a Delegation to Monitor the current Situation of the Response to HIV/AIDS in Preah Sihanouk Province

 

Photos taken during the trip: