PHNOM PENH: The First Lady of Cambodia, Bun Rany Hun Sen, has released a statement on behalf of the Cambodian Red Cross in observance of World Aids Day. She has said that she is pleased to join the Royal Government, HIV/AIDS activists at all levels, and the public in commemorating this important day.
On the occasion of World Aids Day, the First Lady and President of the Cambodian Red Cross, Bun Rany Hun Sen, has released a statement speaking of the work the Cambodian Red Cross does to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS.
She has said that the Cambodian Red Cross, the National Outstanding Elite Team and the 25 Outstanding Elite Team at both Capital and Provincial levels continue to provide support and encouragement to people living with HIV/AIDS through the provision of food, shelter, education, healthcare and financing for businesses, as well as through the dissemination of knowledge and education about HIV and the importance of using anti-retroviral drugs.
She continued that the Cambodian Red Cross and the Elite Team are promoting three priority projects, which are the provision of HIV prevention services to young people and the wider community especially for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission, providing social support to people directly and indirectly affected by HIV/AIDS, and providing services to reduce and eliminate all forms of discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS.
She also acknowledged the involvement of the Royal Government in educating citizens about getting tested and receiving counseling if they are suspected to have HIV, especially pregnant women, as timely care and treatment can help prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV and reduce the presence of HIV in the body by up to 90%. She further congratulated the Royal Government of Cambodia for fighting hard to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and for successfully reopening the country.
The First Lady concluded her statement by calling on her compatriots to continue implementing six important measures for the well-being of families and society, which include points such as educating youth about HIV prevention, and participating in ending all forms of discrimination against people living with HIV and AIDS in accordance with the Law on Prevention and Control of the Spread of HIV and AIDS in Cambodia.
She also called on the private sector and philanthropists from all walks of life to continue partnerships and providing support to the Cambodian Red Cross to contribute to the Royal Government’s goal of achieving zero new HIV infections, zero AIDS-related deaths and zero discrimination by 2025.
