Cambodia

Key Results in 2022-2023

Cambodia joined the Global Partnership for Action to Eliminate all Forms of HIV-Related Stigma and Discrimination.
Over 100 000 people from key populations accessed HIV prevention and testing services through innovative and differentiated approaches.
Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) services were scaled up to 40 sites benefiting more than 16 000 people predominantly from key populations.
The first fertility study among women living with HIV in the region was launched following intense advocacy.
Comprehensive sexuality education was implemented across 433 schools, benefiting over 150 000 students.

Joint Programme Results

In the 2022-2023 biennium, the Joint Programme’s strategic support enabled Cambodia to expand combination HIV prevention services to over 100 000 people from key populations through innovative and differentiated approaches. Subsequently, 86% of the people accessed differentiated HIV testing services—a 55% increase in access to HIV testing and 61% increase in case-finding and treatment initiation among key populations from 2021 respectively (UNODC, WHO, UNAIDS Secretariat). HIV testing was further strengthened following the review of the national testing service guidelines and training of 114 outreach workers and field staff on these guidelines and promotion of voluntary testing and counselling services. In addition, about 14 000 people from key populations benefited from the HIV self-testing services implemented in 23 provinces and all people who tested positive were linked to treatment (WHO, UNAIDS Secretariat).

Facility- and community-based PrEP services were scaled up to 40 sites and cumulatively over 16 100 people, primarily key populations accessed PrEP through these sites by the end of 2023 (WHO, UNAIDS Secretariat). A community-led outreach initiative reached more than 380 000 social media and dating application users and 52 700 men who have sex with men and transgender people increasing demand for PrEP and HIV self-testing services (UNAIDS Secretariat). In addition, a key population friendly service model implemented in six sites significantly improved access and quality of services for close to 9000 people living with HIV and key populations (UNAIDS Secretariat).

Antiretroviral treatment (ART), including early infant diagnosis and paediatric ART was strengthened through the revision of treatment guidelines and operating procedures; scale up of same day initiation and multimonth dispensing of ART; and implementation of point-of-care testing with GeneXpert machines in 15 sites (WHO, UNAIDS Secretariat).

In 2022-2023, about 23 000 people living with HIV were registered in the national IDPoor mechanism through an application designed to help them register at treatment sites improving their access to free healthcare (UNDP, UNAIDS Secretariat).

Comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) was implemented across 433 schools in eight provinces, benefiting 150 350 students and enhancing their access to information of sexual and reproductive health and rights, CSE and gender (UNFPA). About 900 young people also received combination HIV prevention information and services via the recently updated youth health mobile application (UNFPA and UNAIDS Secretariat). The LoveIsDiversity social media platform for LGBTQI+ individuals further advanced HIV and sexual and reproductive health awareness among 1.5 million Facebook users through information sharing and promotion of rights (UN Women).

Cambodia joined the Global Partnership for Action to Eliminate all Forms of HIV-Related Stigma and Discrimination and developed its 2023-2028 action plan focusing on education, healthcare and community settings. Besides, the Undetectable = Untransmissible (U=U) campaign sensitized over 80 000 people on eliminating HIV-related stigma and discrimination (UNAIDS Secretariat). Robust advocacy and technical support to the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training led to the establishment of AIDS and Drug Commissions in more than 6200 factories and enterprises (ILO).

In 2023, a total of 33 323 people participated in community-led monitoring data collection and nine community fora were convened in 2022-23 to address the needs of people living with HIV and key populations following capacity building training of 103 people living with HIV, key populations and community leaders on community-led monitoring, comprehensive leadership, evidence-based advocacy (UNAIDS Secretariat). Evidence for the HIV response and programming is stronger thanks to the results from Integrated Biological and Behavioural Surveillance (IBBS) survey among female sex workers, men who have sex with men and transgender persons.