Despite generous funding from various global funds, tackling the growing problem of children with HIV/Aids will require $7 million a year
Cambodia needs at least US$7 million per year to strengthen HIV and Aids services and treatment, particularly for children, said Mean Chhivoan, the director of National Centre for HIV/Aids, Dermatology and STDs (NCHADS).
"So far, we have received funding from three different sources, including the Universal Fund, the Clinton Foundation and from the national budget," to provide HIV/Aids services, he said. "We are trying hard to find more funding," he added.
"To date, the Clinton Foundation has provided Cambodia with treatment drugs worth approximately $2 milllion to $3 million," he said.
"We have a lot of organisations supporting us, however, the Clinton Fund is very important because it specifically helps children with HIV," he said.
"They have also provided four specialist staff to help HIV-positive children at the National Paediatric Hospital."
Chhour Y Meng, director of the National Paediatric Hospital, said the facility received anti-retroviral treatment drugs from both the Clinton Foundation and the Universal Fund.
However, he said that the supply has not been enough to treat all children. "For every 1,000 HIV-positive children we only have enough drugs to treat 600 and that is not enough."
[AIDSPortal summary]
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News Date:
6 October 2008
Contributed On:
6 October 2008