DanChurchAid
Cambodia
HIV/AIDS awareness, prevention and support
©
Maia Kahlke Lorentzen
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| A patient showing her HIV medicine, Cambodia |
1,6% of Cambodia’s population, approximately 130.000 people, are living with HIV/AIDS. The epidemic is affecting many different groups in the population.
Risk reduction amongst youth
The joint DanChurchAid and Christian Aid effort, entitled Sexual Health and Life Skills for Young People in Cambodia, aims to create a supportive environment for vulnerable and hard to reach youth to prevent HIV transmission and mitigate the impacts of HIV and AIDS. The Programme responds to the changing nature of the HIV epidemic in Cambodia and address some of the root causes of transmission of HIV as well as some of its most adverse impacts.
More than one third of the population of Cambodia fall into the age group 10-24 and, while HIV rates appear to be low among the age group 15-24 (0.3% among women and 0.1% among men ), many of these young people, the next generation, are vulnerable to HIV infection for a number of reasons. Even though most young people know about HIV and AIDS, there are still many misconceptions and stigma surrounding sexual health and HIV, especially in rural areas.
HIV/AIDS is not only a health problem
| HIV/AIDS in Cambodia |
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| HIV/AIDS is decreasing in Cambodia. In 1997 3% of the population were living with HIV/AIDS - today it's reduced to 1,6%. However, the epidemic has become "generalized", meaning that it is spreading in the general population and is no longer limited to certain risk groups, such as sex workers or drug addicts. Read more about DanChurchAids effort against HIV/AIDS |
The virus affects the patients and the environment in many ways. Bad health reduces income and exposes the patient to discrimination and marginalization in their communities. The patients basic rights are often ignored and they will experience lack of medical treatment, exclusion from democratic processes along with greater risk of violence and abuse.
For the youth in Cambodia, information about sexual health and HIV is often hard to come by, since parents, teachers, religious leaders and others who have influence over the information and decisions available to young people have often been reluctant to discuss sexual and reproductive health with young people in a way that enables them to make informed decisions and to access services available.
DanChurchAid's HIV/AIDS work
DCA/CA HIV/AIDS program in Cambodia focuses on awareness, prevention, care and support through empowerment of the local communities, and education and training for vulnerable youth.
DCA/CA works with a range of local and international partners focusing on the areas with the highest prevalence of the HIV epidemic.
The aim is to keep the epidemic decreasing among the young population, as well as improving the livelihoods of the people already affected.
Cambodia
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