Cambodia to eradicate HIV/AIDS infection from mother to child by 2020

[Guest guest]

[Editors note: The resolve of Cambodian political leaders to eradicate HIV

infection from mother to child by 2010 is commendable. Can we expect such a

political resolve from the political leaders and bureaucrats of " Shining India " ]

Cambodia to eradicate HIV/AIDS infection from mother to child by 2020

2009-12-26 06:21:32 GMT2009-12-26 14:21:32 (Beijing Time) Xinhua English

PHNOM PENH, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia has set year 2020 as a timeline to

eradicate the spread or infection of HIV/AIDS from mother to child.

Mean Chhiv Vun, advisor to Cambodia's Ministry of Health and director of

National Center for HIV/AIDS said Saturday that the Ministry of Health has

pledged to eradicate the infection of HIV/AIDS from mother to child by 2020.

He said as of now, of the total 36,077 HIV/ADIS related patients, 3,500 are

children and being provided medical care by the government.

According to the government's statistics, the prevalence of infection rate has

declined from 2 percent in 2006 to 0.9 percent in 2008 for adults aged 15 and

49, and is expected the rate will further decline to 0.6 percent by 2012.

Earlier this month, Bun Rany, spouse of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and

Chairman of Cambodian Red Cross pledged that the government, her Cambodian Red

Cross as well as other national and international organizations were committed

to continue helping and supporting all activities that help combating this

deadly disease.

She also urged all private companies to not condition employees' pre-blood test

prior to offering their new job, an act she says a violation to law on HIV/AIDS.

Cambodia is considered as a successful country in fighting against the spread or

infection of HIV/AIDS through a 100 percent condom use campaign.

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