Meeting on Implementation of Prakas No. 66 in Battambang

[BATTAMBANG] National AIDS Authority (NAA) organized the series of meetings to disseminate and strengthen the implementation of Prakas 66 and NAA’s decision No. 482. The meeting was organized on 15 June 2011 at Kemara Battambang Hotel with approximately 150 participants from Provincial AIDS Committee (PAC), owners of establishments and beer gardens, police, local authorities, court, deputy commander in chief and NGOs.

H.E Kim Norn, a Provincial Governor of Battambang province, delivered a welcome speech and updated the achievement of implementing the Prakas 66 in Battambang province. Local authorities cooperated with owners of establishments to implement the Prakas 66 such as encouraging the owners to send their employees to do VCCT. Furthermore, PAC cooperated with NAA to facilitate the implementation of Prakas 66. Within this progress, there were some remaining challenges and issues which altogether need to solve. He also encouraged participants to raise the questions which are concerning to the obstacles to the guest speakers for finding common solutions and solve together.

H.E Dr. Chea Som An, Deputy Director of National AIDS Authority, addressed the speech and opened the meeting. He repeatedly mentioned the objectives of this meeting. Because HIV/AIDS remained the concern of the world and the apprehension of the appeared second wave, National AIDS Authority endeavored to disseminate and strengthen the implementation of effective Prakas 66, particularly among the establishments, beer gardens, and Karaoke clubs.

Prakas 66 was framed and distributed to owners of establishments, beer gardens, guest houses, Karaoke, and clubs and then the meeting was closed.

Meeting on Implementation of Prakas No. 66 in Siem Reap

[SIEM REAP] On 14 June 2011, National AIDS Authority (NAA) organized a meeting on “Dissemination and Strengthening the Implementation of Prakas No. 66” at Cozyna Hotel, Siem Reap province. The objectives of the meeting are to disseminate and strengthen the implementation of Prakas 66 of government and the decision No. 482 of NAA and to implement successfully the 100% Condom Use Program (100% CUP). The meeting presided over by H.E Dr. Sim Kimsen, vice-chair secretary general of NAA, and around 150 participants came from owners of entertainment establishments and beer gardens, police, local authorities, provincial AIDS committee, and relevant authorities, joint this meeting.

Welcomed speech by H.E Mao Vuthy, Director of Provincial AIDS Committee and deputy governor of Siem Reap province, addressing that he was appreciate to participate in this meeting and to clarify the confusion of using Prakas 66. The meeting is a kind of activities to prevent the HIV epidemic.

H.E Dr. Sim Kimsen, Vice Chair of NAA, welcomed speech and opened the meeting. In this occasion, he would like to thank all development partners, stakeholders, and civil societies for mutually working to achieve the award from United Nation Award on Millennium Development Goal 6 (MDG6). Without the participation from local authorities, owners of establishment, and beer garden, the result of HIV epidemic reduction could not be achieved. 

Prakas 66 on 100% CUP is a main guide to pave the way for implementers. Remaining a concern of second wave which may be occurred such as the increase of Entertaining Workers (EWs), Men who have Sex with Men (MSM) and Drug users/Injecting Drug users, NAA conducted this meeting to disseminate the decision and to share experiences and challenges during the implementation in which it may occur.

Many questions were raised related to the condoms existing in place and concerning the accusation by police. All questions were answered by guest speakers.

-          Ask if police used condoms as evidences, what can the owners of establishment do? Answering by deputy governor and as a Provincial AIDS Committee, H.E Mao Vuthy and deputy secretary general Dr. Ros Seilavath, saying that when facing this problem, the owners of establishment should report to him for intervention. However, he mentioned that only the case related to condom uses regardless rape, drug uses, minor rape, and other activities which are not relevant to 100% Condom Use Program. In addition, he strongly supported and encouraged all owners of entertainment establishments to keep condoms available in places.

-          PAC has no budget support for coordination among stakeholders and local authorities, how can the coordination be done?  According to recommendation of H.E Dr. Sim Kimsen, the budget to support the coordination of PAC is now available; he suggested PAC make a request to NAA for this budget.

-          What is the intervention on MSM in foreign restaurants? Answering by participants, there are networks and peers to educate those MSMs in which recently 1183 MSM are existing in Siem Reap province.

-          What will happen if the owners of establishment did not display condoms? Answering by H.E Dr. Sim Kimsen, there is no any accusation of not displaying the condoms; however, it is the law in which altogether need to contribute to the reduction of HIV epidemic.

-          How many organizations are working to disseminate the condom use and what is the identity to show the promotion team? Answering by Mr. Nou Sovann, PSI has a team to promote the condom uses in the target areas in Siem Reap province and PSI also got approval from the owners to do the activities.

Suggestion

-          Owners of establishment suggested that PSI should make the presentation of condom display boxes and slides in the establishments to testify that there have no trafficking activities. The slides shall be approved from the governor or deputy governor of Siem Reap province with the coordination of PSI. The suggestion has been accepted for consideration from PSI and Governor.

H.E Mao Vuthy and H.E Dr. Sim Kimsen strongly supported all owners of establishments to have condoms in places. According to Dr. Ros Seilavath, there were three laws concerning to the HIV prevention such as Law on Suppression of Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation, Law on Drug Control, and Village/Commune Safety Policy. Pertaining to the use of condoms as the evidence is not stated in any law. It may have hidden information behind the issues, he added.

In addition, there were presentations of the achievement of PSI on the promotional team for condom uses and figures of target groups. To be more confident of implementing 100% CUP, Dr. Sieng Sorya, deputy secretary general of NAA, read the Prakas 66 and NAA’s decision No. 482. Participants were encouragingly given a floor to raise questions and concerns for the meeting.

Finally, H.E Dr. Sim Kimsen wrapped up and closed the meeting with some recommendations. He raised challenges which have been faced.

1.       Some owners of establishment didn’t implement Prakas 66 on 100% CUP fully.

2.       Some owners of entertainment establishment remained afraid of conviction of storing condoms in their places.

3.       The staff did not have accurate figure of condom uses.

Seeing these obstacles, NAA and PSI coordinated this meeting today to disseminate and strengthen the implementation in sub-national levels among public and private sectors. H.E Dr. Sim Kimsen recommended that:

• All owners should fully implement the 100% CUP in all establishments. This is the contribution to achieve the reduction of HIV epidemic.
• All owners are encouraged to implement the 100% CUP without the intervention of trafficking by using condom as evidence.
• All owners should cooperate with local authorities, especially the Provincial AIDS Secretariat for doing this activity.
• All owners should send their employee to do testing (VCCT) in order to avoid the transmission of disease.

He also recommended PAC to implement the Prakas 66 successfully with participations from all owners of establishment, NGOs, and relevant local authorities. 

Quality of Care, Quality of Life

[PHNOM PENH]-Hundreds working on or affected by HIV will come together at the Pi Phorn Raingsey Pagoda in Phnom Penh, Wednesday May 25^th 2011 at 4-7pm,  for the annual Candlelight Memorial Day 2011 ceremony. Organized by the HIV/AIDS Coordinating Committee (HACC), in partnership with other community organizations working on HIV, these NGOs will use the ceremony to call for improvements to the quality of care and quality of life for people living with HIV and raise awareness about some of the challenges facing the HIV response nationally.

As Mr TIM Vora, HACC’s Executive Director explains “Although Cambodia has made great gains in combating the spread of HIV and improving access to health care, the quality of this health care is often limited.  In addition, poverty and widespread fear, stigma and discrimination prevent many people living with and affected by HIV from living healthy and fulfilling lives.”

NGOs are also calling on the Cambodian government and donors to continue to support and fund the HIV/AIDS response. “Just as we continue to honor the memories of those who have died from AIDS with this Candlelight Memorial Day ceremony, the HIV response needs ongoing commitment, cooperation and support at every level; from the Royal Government of Cambodia, to local authorities to local and international donors” said Mr Vora.

To date, the HIV response in Cambodia has been highly dependent on international donor funds, yet these have begun to diminish following a reduction in HIV prevalence rates. 

“A reduced rate of HIV infection does not mean that there are no longer major challenges” says Mr Vora. “NGOs need to continue to be involved in developing plans for the long term to ensure that there are local funds to provide people living with HIV ongoing access to high quality health care and medication, as well as adequate nutrition and livelihood opportunities.”

A global grassroots movement, Candlelight Memorial Day is an annual event designed to spread hope, unite communities and honor the memories of those who have lost their live to AIDS related illness. All those interested in showing their support for people living with HIV are invited to attend the ceremony at the Pi Phorn Raingsey Pagoda (Wat Chen Dam Dek) Sangkat Srah Chok, Khan Daun Penh, Phnom Penh tomorrow Wednesday May 25th 4-7pm. Around 400 people included people living with HIV (PLHIV), Men who have sex with Men (MSM), Entertainment Workers (EW), drug users, volunteers, students, Monks, Representatives of Civil Societies, government official, development partners, and so on will participate in this event.

In addition to HACC, The National Men who have Sex with Men network/ Bandanh Chaktomuk (BC), The Cambodia Alliance for Combating HIV/AIDS (CACHA), The Cambodian Community of Women living with HIV and AIDS (CCW), The Cambodian Network of People Living with HIV (CPN+) and The Women’s Network for Unity (WNU) are organizing partners for this year’s event.

http://hacccambodia.org/view_news.php?id=%20135