PHNOM PENH: The Cambodian Red Cross organized a workshop to raise awareness and understanding of the prevention and control of HIV transmission among young people, on Thursday, 18 August.
The First Deputy Secretary General of the Cambodian Red Cross and Permanent Vice President of the National Elite Working Group, Men Neary Sopheak, stated that this workshop was very important to share the views and knowledge on HIV prevention and transmission in society.
She added, "We also have a strategic plan to eradicate AIDS, which is a threat to public health, by 2025. Therefore, in order to achieve this strategic plan, it is necessary to involve all stakeholders, especially youth, in spreading awareness about HIV/AIDS in the community."
In addition to raising awareness among young people, the workshop was also held in honor of International Humanitarian Day on 19 August, and to compile the 32nd National Elite Program for broadcast on the National Television of Cambodia and other media outlets.
"This is a reflection of the fact that the Cambodian Red Cross, the largest humanitarian institution in Cambodia and the 85th member of the International Red Cross-Red Crescent Movement, is carrying out daily humanitarian activities and doing everything for a humanitarian cause," said Men Neary Sopheak.
Deputy Secretary-General Yu Lana said that this workshop, in addition to presentations made by experts, was divided into eight focus groups, with topics preselected for discussion to gather comments to present at additional workshops in the future.
The Deputy Director of the Department of Health of the Cambodian Red Cross, Mom Chanthy, said she highly appreciated the discussions and views shared by each group on the subject of HIV/AIDS awareness, and saw that all participants are committed to the eradication of HIV/AIDS in the community. She said she hopes to continue this outreach activity, as well as spread more awareness among the community, as the attendees will be able to teach others about what they have learnt within their direct communities in the future.
First Deputy Secretary General Men Neary Sopheak also expressed her hope that all participants would join together to eradicate HIV/AIDS in Cambodia by 2025, and reminded everyone that while AIDS is not difficult to prevent, there is no vaccine or cure.
The workshop was attended by 70 participants in total who all received souvenirs and letters of recommendation for their active participation in the Strategic Plan for the Eradication of AIDS in 2025.
