AIDS Looms Large Over Cambodian Military, Police

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1995. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

AIDS Looms Large Over Cambodian Military, Police

Reuters (10/05/95)
Dobbs, Leo

Health experts say that HIV is spreading rapidly through Cambodia's military and police. New statistics show that nearly 8 percent of 380 police blood samples tested positive for HIV, while close to 8 percent and 5 percent of military and military police blood samples, respectively, were HIV- positive. In Koh Kong, a province that borders Thailand, more than 30 percent of the military and 10 percent of the police are infected, versus 8 percent and 6 percent, respectively, for the capital city Phnom Penh. The rate among civilian blood donors in January was close to 4 percent. Hor Bun Leng, the director of the HIV/AIDS Program in Cambodia, said that these men are frequently far from home and that "they often meet with commercial sex workers and most of them are uneducated...sometimes they can't read our [HIV-AIDS awareness] messages." Leng added that efforts were in progress to address the HIV/AIDS problem among the military and police, but these moves were hampered by a lack of human resources and money.

951005
AD951799

Copyright © 1995 - Information, Inc., Bethesda, MD. The CDC National Center for HIV, STD and TB Prevention provides the following information as a public service only. Providing synopses of key scientific articles and lay media reports on HIV/AIDS, other sexually transmitted diseases and tuberculosis does not constitute CDC endorsement. This daily update also includes information from CDC and other government agencies, such as background on Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) articles, fact sheets, press releases and announcements. Reproduction of this text is encouraged; however, copies may not be sold, and the CDC HIV/STD/TB Prevention News Update should be cited as the source of the information. Contact the sources of the articles abstracted below for full texts of the articles.

AEGiS is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, educational corporation. AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted funding from Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, Elton John AIDS Foundation, the National Library of Medicine, Pacific Life Foundation and donations from users like you.

Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 1995. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.

AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.

Copyright ©1980, 1995. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content.