Sangoeun with a monk at Impoverish Meas Monastery, before meditation with HIV positive soldiers. Both are HIV/AIDS trainers. (Photo: Internews)April 3, 2008
Internews Press Release
Phnom Penh – For years, Sergeant Yoeun Sangoeun’s weapon was his AK-47 rifle, used to fight enemies like the Khmer Rouge. It was only three years ago through Internews Mekong Turnaround project that he discovered another weapon – the media.
On July 14, 2001, Yoeun Sangoeun began to conquer an invisible enemy. Since he was diagnosed with HIV that fateful day, he has learned first hand of the discrimination and injustice against soldiers living with HIV. Together with Internews’ network of journalists and the Internews Europe Mekong Turnaround project, Sangoeun has created a series of stories that have significantly impacted this largely marginalized group.
Sangoeun, now 40 years old, leads a support group for HIV-positive soldiers and their families who receive treatment and reside at Preah Ket Mealea military hospital in Phnom Penh.
Sangoeun joined ten HIV-positive representatives of diverse backgrounds for a basic Internews training in communication skills in 2005, and an advanced training in 2006. Hands-on mentoring in an Internews Local Voices project complements formal training. This instruction and preparation aims to improve journalists’ coverage of HIV -issues.
So when he learned that his fellow soldiers were to be evicted from the hospital and left with no choice but to return to their military units despite their fragile health, Sangoeun was quick to put his new media communication knowledge to use. Sangoeun got the new knowledge during his Internews training on media, ethics and HIV/AIDS in November 2007.
One of the journalists with whom he worked was Chheang Bopha, an experienced print journalist and Internews trainee with Radio France International. Bopha – a woman – is conspicuous in the male-dominated profession, but her prominence in the field is also due to her balanced coverage of important political and social issues. Sangoeun arranged for her to interview soldiers who had been evicted or who anticipated a similar imminent fate. (See the text transcript of the radio report (PDF), aired in Khmer-language on RFI and FM 102, November 2007 by Chheang Bopha)
According to Sangoeun, most soldiers have opportunistic illnesses or are on anti-retroviral treatment (ART) and are too weak to work. “Currently, they’re using anti-retroviral drugs to prolong their lives and their health isn’t better yet. Some still have low CD4 levels,” he said.
Sangoeun said that while some are strong enough to return to their military units and are able to get medical services nearby, most are too weak and thus have nowhere else to go because their bases are their official registered residence.
The soldiers’ plight was aired locally in Khmer-language on France International Radio and Beehive Radio, FM 102. Following the broadcast, the deputy chief of the military hospital, a one-star general, approached Sangoeun to negotiate the soldiers’ return.
It was the latest victory for PLHIV (People Living with HIV) in Cambodia, and a prime example of how powerful the media and PLHIV can be when they join forces to reduce social stigma and discrimination against HIV/AIDS. Earlier, Sangoeun’s cooperation with Koh Santipheap (Island of Peace) journalist Meng Leng revealed corruption in the medical field, exposing doctors who were illegally selling ARVs to HIV-positive soldiers in the military hospital. The resulting shift in policy was unusual in a country where rampant corruption plagues the health system. A feature about his military life also provided a rare glimpse into the life of HIV-positive soldiers.
These success stories illustrate how the Internews Europe Mekong Turnaround project effectively raised the voices of many PLHIV in the media. Early this year, Sangoeun was selected for a six-month Internews internship aimed at refining his media skills and enabling him work with other PLHIV to improve their ability to advocate through the media.
The project is funded by DFID (The Department for International Development)
On July 14, 2001, Yoeun Sangoeun began to conquer an invisible enemy. Since he was diagnosed with HIV that fateful day, he has learned first hand of the discrimination and injustice against soldiers living with HIV. Together with Internews’ network of journalists and the Internews Europe Mekong Turnaround project, Sangoeun has created a series of stories that have significantly impacted this largely marginalized group.
Sangoeun, now 40 years old, leads a support group for HIV-positive soldiers and their families who receive treatment and reside at Preah Ket Mealea military hospital in Phnom Penh.
Sangoeun joined ten HIV-positive representatives of diverse backgrounds for a basic Internews training in communication skills in 2005, and an advanced training in 2006. Hands-on mentoring in an Internews Local Voices project complements formal training. This instruction and preparation aims to improve journalists’ coverage of HIV -issues.
So when he learned that his fellow soldiers were to be evicted from the hospital and left with no choice but to return to their military units despite their fragile health, Sangoeun was quick to put his new media communication knowledge to use. Sangoeun got the new knowledge during his Internews training on media, ethics and HIV/AIDS in November 2007.
One of the journalists with whom he worked was Chheang Bopha, an experienced print journalist and Internews trainee with Radio France International. Bopha – a woman – is conspicuous in the male-dominated profession, but her prominence in the field is also due to her balanced coverage of important political and social issues. Sangoeun arranged for her to interview soldiers who had been evicted or who anticipated a similar imminent fate. (See the text transcript of the radio report (PDF), aired in Khmer-language on RFI and FM 102, November 2007 by Chheang Bopha)
According to Sangoeun, most soldiers have opportunistic illnesses or are on anti-retroviral treatment (ART) and are too weak to work. “Currently, they’re using anti-retroviral drugs to prolong their lives and their health isn’t better yet. Some still have low CD4 levels,” he said.
Sangoeun said that while some are strong enough to return to their military units and are able to get medical services nearby, most are too weak and thus have nowhere else to go because their bases are their official registered residence.
The soldiers’ plight was aired locally in Khmer-language on France International Radio and Beehive Radio, FM 102. Following the broadcast, the deputy chief of the military hospital, a one-star general, approached Sangoeun to negotiate the soldiers’ return.
It was the latest victory for PLHIV (People Living with HIV) in Cambodia, and a prime example of how powerful the media and PLHIV can be when they join forces to reduce social stigma and discrimination against HIV/AIDS. Earlier, Sangoeun’s cooperation with Koh Santipheap (Island of Peace) journalist Meng Leng revealed corruption in the medical field, exposing doctors who were illegally selling ARVs to HIV-positive soldiers in the military hospital. The resulting shift in policy was unusual in a country where rampant corruption plagues the health system. A feature about his military life also provided a rare glimpse into the life of HIV-positive soldiers.
These success stories illustrate how the Internews Europe Mekong Turnaround project effectively raised the voices of many PLHIV in the media. Early this year, Sangoeun was selected for a six-month Internews internship aimed at refining his media skills and enabling him work with other PLHIV to improve their ability to advocate through the media.
The project is funded by DFID (The Department for International Development)
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