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Cambodia

HIV and AIDS discrimination is coming to an end

HIV is still a stigmatizing disease in Cambodia although it has changed a lot after for instance HIV and AIDS awareness campaigns, says Sar Sokhy, HIV patient in Battambang.

"I was terrified and so mad when I found out. I knew no one would talk to me or share food with me if they found out I had HIV."

The first thing that sprung to Pov's mind when she found out she was infected with HIV was whether the neighbors would treat her like an outcast.

Pov is 34 and lives in Ra village in the Kampong Speu province of Cambodia. Her husband infected her 4 years ago and now she is alone with her two sons on seven and eight, none of whom are infected.

HIV: A stigmatizing disease

HIV is still a highly stigmatizing disease in Cambodia, as it is all over the world. People know little of risk behavior and ways of infection and will often avoid the patients with HIV and AIDS.

But Pov's neighbors are quite different. They come over and chat, have food at her house and help her out when she is too sick to work or take care of her kids.

"I was scared for no reason my neighbors have helped me even more than my own family." She says smiling.

Sar Sokhy, who is an HIV patient in Battambang, agrees. She is part of the home based care program, where she has volunteered to get training in care from LWF and now she helps other patients in there homes.

"Previously there was a lot of discrimination of HIV patients, but it has changed after the LWF staff did awareness campaigns to everybody. The discrimination has ended now," Sar Sokhy says.