HIV/AIDS Valentine's Day Awareness Event on February 14, 2023
The National AIDS Authority (NAA) organized educational events on February 14, 2023, to provide information on HIV/AIDS prevention. The NAA held the events in front of the NAA building to remind the general public, especially the people most at risk of HIV infection and young adults to not forget about being responsible and accountable in regards to safeguarding against HIV/AIDS infection on the International Day of Love.
Senior Minister Ieng Mouly, Chair of the NAA, visited the exhibition booths and encouraged the men who have sex with men (MSM) activists to continue to pay more attention to the voices of gay and transgender people.
Senior Minister Ieng Mouly also stated, "When the world celebrates Valentine's Day to show love for couples, Cambodia celebrates Valentine's Day to show love for parents, teachers, wives, children, friends, national leaders and so on. In particular, we want to show our love for people living with HIV by calling for non-discrimination and accepting people living with HIV as the same people, as brothers and sisters."
The Chair of the NAA added, "This is the opportunity to confirm that the Royal Government does not discriminate against LGBT people. We love everyone regardless of sexual orientation. What we want is for LGBT people to be free of HIV, because the rate of HIV transmission among men who have sex with men is steadily increasing and the rate is as high as 4%, compared to the infection among the general population, which is only 0.6%."
Furthermore, the Senior Minister encouraged men who have sex with men (MSM) to increase their chances of being safe through using condoms or taking pre-sex pills (PreP). He added that MSMs should not forget that they can also get HIV if they are not protected.
Additionally, on this event, T-shirts, HIV/AIDS education leaflets, blood tests for HIV, and condoms were distributed for free to the general public in front of the NAA building. The Royal Cambodian Armed Forces and in collaboration with many partner organizations, including PSI, AHF, KHANA, FHI360, together with Chhouk Sar were in participation.
info@naaa.gov.kh
+855 (0)23 885 129
+855 (0)23 885 279
ភាសាខ្មែរ
English
