The number of HIV Cases Has Surged in Cambodia in 2022
Blood sample of a HIV-positive patient. (AFP)
- By Te Chhaysinh
- June 25, 2023 12:01 PM
PHNOM PENH — Prime Minister Hun Sen on June 24 expressed concern regarding the rising number of new cases of HIV in the country.
While addressing 20,000 factory workers at the Morodok Techo National Sports Complex in Phnom Penh, the prime minister spoke of HIV/AIDS that is more dangerous than COVID-19, he said.
“HIV kills people who can’t be healed,” he said. “None of the countries has yet found medicine to cure it. They can find vaccines and medicine to treat COVID, but there is no vaccine protection for HIV or medicine to cure it yet.”
According to recent data, 1,400 people have recently been diagnosed with HIV in Cambodia, which is an increase of 300 cases compared to 2021, the prime minister said, adding that the majority of the new cases involves people of the same sex, particularly gay couples.
Hun Sen urged people to be careful, to use protection, especially in the case of gay couples. He also called on people not to discriminate against people with HIV in the workplace.
Those who are suspicious about having HIV/AIDS should take a free test and receive treatment, the prime minister said.
Hun Sen stressed that Cambodia is one of the countries that put a great deal of effort into containing HIV/AIDS, poliomyelitis, and nyctalopia, and that Cambodia will put an end to malaria by 2025.
