Saturday, November 28, 2009

Health Workers Warn of Higher HIV Infections

By Pich Samnang, VOA Khmer
Original report form Phnom Penh
27 November 2009


Health agencies say they are worried about a high number of HIV infections among indirect sex workers, drug needle sharers and men who have sex with men.

Infections have risen since the inception of an anti-trafficking law that has driven sex workers out of brothels, where condoms are easily distributed, and into entertainment venues where distribution is more difficult.

Nearly one in every four intravenous drug users is HIV positive, according to government figures. Also, about 5 percent of male prostitutes in Cambodia are estimated to be HIV positive.

Unexpected problems have resulted from the closure of brothels after the passage of the anti-trafficking law in 2008.

“When we go to offer our condoms and sex education services in the entertainment facilities, the owners stop us saying their places do not offer sex services,” said Tim Vora, acting executive director of HIV/AIDS Coordinating Committee.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

HIV, prostitution, abuse, violence, poverty, those are part of cpp culture and those who birth it and rule over it

Anonymous said...

cambodia should emphasize in the education of hiv prevention and the tolerance and effort to lessen the stigma on those who are infected and affected by hiv/aids. stigma was due to fear of hiv/aids, however, with emphasis on education on the method of transmission and its exceptional to the rule would help to foster tolerance and understanding and compassion on those who are affected and infected by the virus. until the therapeutic vaccine is found, we all have to educate everyone on the stigma and fear of hiv/aids, really!

Anonymous said...

We do not heard too much about Vietnamese being infected with this deadly disease, because Viet authority kept sending those whore with germs into cambodia and infected cambodian....!

Anonymous said...

In China or Vietnam people who are infected were put in one place like a corrections facility, they do not allow to go anywhere, Vietnamese authority open the door for these infected people to keep puring into cambodia...