Cambodian Parliamentarians receive additional tool to fight against HIV
Friday, January 29, 2010
PHNOM PENH, 29 January 2010: Cambodia has been hailed for its efforts in reducing the rate of HIV transmission during the last decade. Yet increased engagement – particularly from the country’s Members of Parliament – will help prevent this progress from being eroded in the future.
To assist them, all Parliamentarians have today received a Parliamentary Handbook on HIV and AIDS.
The Parliamentary Handbook is a user-friendly resource, presenting concise information about the epidemic, its causes, responses, as well as recommendations regarding how parliamentarians can become further engaged in the National response, enabling more effective engagement across policy, advocacy, leadership and legislative areas.
First Lady of Cambodia and President of the Cambodian Red Cross, Lok Chumtiev Bun Rany Hun Sen, launched the handbook at the National Assembly Palace today. The First lady is also the National Champion for the Asia Pacific leadership Forum on HIV/AIDS and Development (APLF).
“This handbook is another tool in the fight against HIV/AIDS in Cambodia,” said H.E. Mrs. Khloth Tongphka, Chairwoman of the Senate’s Commission 8, the Commission on Health, Social Affairs, Veteran, Rehabilitation, Vocational Training, Labour and Women’s Affairs.
Cambodia has been recognised in the region as a success story for having significantly reduced its HIV prevalence rate. New estimates show that HIV prevalence among adults aged 15 to 49 has decreased to an estimated 0.7 percent in 2009 from 2 percent in 1998. Meanwhile, nearly everyone who is HIV positive is receiving the AIDS treatment they need due the efforts of the Royal Government of Cambodia and its development partners.
Despite this success, the fight against the epidemic is far from over. More focus is now needed on most at risk groups, including entertainment workers and their male clients, men who have sex with men, and drug users. They have been identified as being at high risk for contracting HIV and spreading it to the general population.
H.E. Mrs. Khloth Tongphka said all parliamentarians and their staff could use the handbook to further engage with their constituents in the battle to keep HIV and AIDS at bay.
“The Parliament of Cambodia recognises that the task cannot be achieved through the specialized commissions alone, rather all Cambodian legislators should be charged with disseminating information, providing leadership and advocacy to the Cambodian people on HIV/AIDS,” said H.E. Mrs. Ho Naun, Chairwoman of the National Assembly’s Commission 8.
The development of the handbook has been a joint effort undertaken by UNDP’s Legislative Assistance Project (LEAP) and UNAIDS in collaboration with the Parliament and the National AIDS Authority with technical support provided by USAID’s Prasit Project .
