PHNOM PENH, Nov 27, 2006 (AFP) - Former US president Bill Clinton is expected to arrive in Cambodia this week for talks on the country's HIV/AIDS problem, Prime Minister Hun Sen said Monday.
"He has a plan to visit Cambodia to discuss this issue," Hun Sen said in a speech broadcast on national radio, adding that Clinton would arrive "in the next few days".
World AIDS Day will be marked around the globe on Friday.
In 2005 the Clinton Foundation HIV/AIDS Initiative established an official office in Cambodia, which still has the highest prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the region, with 1.9 percent of the population of 13.8 million suffering from the disease.
Despite some victories -- Cambodia was the first Asian nation to halt a spiraling infection rate -- only a fraction of HIV-positive Cambodians have access to affordable treatment, and are increasingly the target of discrimination.
The foundation has worked to improve facilities and training for medical personnel treating HIV/AIDS patients, and has increased the number of children with access to pediatric anti-retroviral therapy.
As of June 2006, there were 1,250 children on anti-retroviral therapy, according to the Foundation's website. As many as 2,000 children are hoped to be receiving treatment by the end of 2006.
The Foundation has helped increasing the number of adults on treatment from 6,000 to more than 13,000 in just over a year, its website said.
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