Cambodia will send at least four officials to the UN Special Session on HIV/AIDS in New York next month, Dr Mean Chhivun, director of the National Center of HIV/AIDS, said Monday.
The session, which will take place from June 25 to June 27 at UN headquarters, will be the first-ever special session to address the epidemic. It comes at a time of intensifying worldwide efforts to increase the availability of treatment and care for the world’s 36 million HIV/AIDS victims, particularly through the use of cheap antiretroviral drugs.
“There will be a lot of discussion on drug access in developing countries,” said Geoff Manthey, UNAIDS country program adviser.
Mean Chhivun said that Minister of Health Hong Sun Huot will lead the Cambodian delegation. Mean Chhivun and Hor Bunleng, National Center of HIV/AIDS deputy director, will also go to New York, he said.
“This will show the commitment of politicians to responding to HIV,” said Mean Chhivun.
The session will involve officials from governments, NGOs and the private sector. Human rights, funding and cooperation, prevention and care and the socio-economic impact of HIV/AIDS will be discussed, he said.
