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Cambodia on track to achieve "3 Zeros" HIV/AIDS target by 2020: deputy PM

Xinhua, December 1, 2015 Adjust font size:

Cambodia is on track to achieve the "Three Zeros" HIV/AIDS target by 2020, Deputy Prime Minister Men Sam An said here on Tuesday.

The 3 Zeros, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in New York in June 2011, included zero new HIV infections, zero stigma and discrimination and zero AIDS-related death by 2020.

According to the National AIDS Authority, HIV carrier rate among Cambodian adults, aged between 15 and 49 years, is 0.6 percent in 2015, down from 0.8 percent in 2011 and 0.7 percent in 2014.

"Based on this result, Cambodia will surely be able to achieve the 3 Zeros by 2020," she said during the celebration of the World AIDS Day with about 600 participants.

However, she said the country needs to accelerate its efforts to reduce HIV/AIDS prevalence rate among the most vulnerable groups.

Currently, Cambodia has more than 70,000 people living with HIV/AIDS infection.

"Some 85 percent of them have received antiretroviral drugs, and the rate is expected to reach 90 percent by 2020," said Ieng Mouly, chairman of the National AIDS Authority.

The Southeast Asian country has seen a success in reducing HIV infection rate over the last decade; however, a tragic HIV outbreak occurred in a remote commune in northwestern Battambang province late last year when an unlicensed doctor used unclean needles for injections.

More than 200 people infected with HIV in that outbreak.

The 57-year-old unlicensed doctor, Yem Chrin, was arrested in Dec. last year on the charges of intentionally transmitting HIV, committing murder with cruel act, and running an unlicensed clinic. A verdict for him will be pronounced on Thursday. Enditem