Cambodia aims to decrease HIV/AIDS prevalence to 0.6% by 2010

Apr 6 2009

Cambodia aims to decrease its HIV/AIDS prevalence to 0.6% by 2010, compared with a prevalence of more than 0.7% in 2008 and 0.9% in 2006, Xinhuanet reports.

To reach the target, the government has allocated between $45 million and $50 million annually to address the disease. Following efforts from the government and nongovernmental organizations, more than 90% of commercial sex workers, injection drug users, men who have sex with men, and women who have sex with women are aware of HIV/AIDS, according to government figures. In addition, the figures indicate that at least 90% of sex workers use condoms.

In addition, 93% of HIV-positive people in Cambodia have received medical aid, 70% of AIDS orphans in the country have been sponsored by the government, and education campaigns have reached rural and boarder areas, according to the figures. Cambodia's HIV/AIDS prevalence in 1998 was 2.8%. About 100,000 people in the country have died from AIDS-related causes, according to statistics (Xinhuanet, 4/3).