HIV/AIDS and STI

Country profiles on HIV/AIDS


Cambodia

Cambodia was once declared a country with a generalized epidemic in the Western Pacific region. This evolved positively and nowadays HIV epidemic is considered concentrated among sex workers, men who have sex with men as well as people who inject drugs in certain areas. Among adults, it was projected that HIV prevalence will continue to drop to 0.7 percent in 2008-2009 from 1.2 percent in 2003 and 0.9 percent in 2006.

Clinic Director, Dr Chhit Sophal and WHO Cambodia team explain objectives of the methadone programme in Cambodia and achievements to-date to the UN Secretary General and his wife.

In the past two years, new policies for HIV interventions have been developed and existing guidelines have been revised to better reflect the challenges arising from Cambodia’s response to HIV. Remarkable progress has been made in terms of health sector response by scaling up treatment and care. The number of people with HIV receiving antiretroviral therapy increased to 37 315 in 2009 from 20 131 in 2006 and Cambodia has today one of the highest coverage of ARV for those at need in WP Region. However with the HIV epidemic there is no time for relaxing. A consensus is emphasizing the risk of a new wave of HIV spread among and from Cambodia’s most-at-risk populations (MARPS).

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon helps a female patient take her methadone.

Core HIV and AIDS epidemic and response data


Indicator 2001 2007 2008 2009
 No. PLHIV
     Total 120 000 75 000
     Adults 120 000 70 000
     Adults pre. % 1.5 0.8
     Women (15+) 31 000 20 000
     Children < 15 years 3600 4400
AIDS Death 14 000 6900
HIV Pre. of MARPs
     IDU % 24 24.4
     FSW % 26.3(a) 12.7 12.7 14.7
     MSM % 14.0(a) 4.5(b) 5
 No. people on ART
    Total  27 000  31 999  37 315
    ART coverage % 67 >95 94(c)
    No. pediatric patients on ART 2541 3067 3638
 No. receiving ARV for PMTCT 1600 777 798
    PMTCT coverage % 32

(a) Median prevalence, in major urban areas. 2000 data.
(b) 2005 data.
(c) Estimate based on the new WHO Guideline on ART.

Sources and notes:
  • 2001 and 2007 data: UNAIDS/WHO 2008 Update: Epidemiological Fact Sheet on HIV and AIDS.
  • 2008 and 2009 data: WHO, UNAIDS and UNICEF: Towards Universal Access: Scaling up Priority HIV/AIDS Interventions in the Health Sector, Progress Report 2009 and 2010.
Share