Our Continuing Support for the Roka Community -From the Ambassadors Penh In early December 2014, all of us in Cambodia heard the shocking news of a cluster of HIV cases in the Roka village located in Battambang province, affecting both young and old. The Ministry of Health (MOH) quickly and effectively responded to this outbreak, following appropriate procedures that have been put in place over many years. At the same time, the MOH reached out to partners to help investigate and respond to this outbreak. The United States did not hesitate in responding to the MOH’s call for support, as part of our committed partnership with Cambodia to reduce the rate of HIV infection in the country. With funding from the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), experts from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) continue to provide assistance to the Roka community and the entire country. To date, there have been 212 people confirmed to be HIV positive as a result of the collaborative investigation in Roka village. We have actively engaged with the Ministry and other health partners, and there are a number of activities that the U.S. has supported to respond to the recent outbreak. Along with the technical advice that we provided to develop and implement the initial confirmation and investigation of the cluster, counseling and education services are being provided for people who were found HIV positive and the overall community. The local health center receives ongoing support in managing patient care and treatment, including identifying and treating opportunistic infections. We are providing treatment and adherence support through home visits to patients. Assistance is also directed towards laboratory testing and further analysis. Cambodia is a recognized global leader in the fight against HIV/AIDS, having been able to rapidly respond to the epidemic by scaling up programs. The tragic situation in the Roka village illustrates the fact that despite Cambodia’s history of success, it is critically important to remain vigilant in identifying new cases and ensuring a strong health system is in place to respond. The U.S. government has been supporting HIV/AIDS efforts in Cambodia since the mid-1990s, providing more than $200 million dollars. As we look to the future, the United States remains committed to the global HIV/AIDS response and the goal of achieving an AIDS-free generation in Cambodia. Prior to the outbreak, the U.S. government worked with Cambodia’s National Center for HIV/AIDS, Dermatology and STDs (NCHADS) to establish a new case management system to actively track recently identified HIV patients and immediately enroll them in care, support, and treatment services. I am encouraged by this and other innovations that will play a vital role in assisting the Roka community and others throughout Cambodia. During my time as U.S. Ambassador, I have been fortunate to have worked with and learned from several individuals dedicated to the fight against HIV/AIDS. Unfortunately, one of these people is departing Cambodia. Dr. Dora Warren, the CDC Country Director since October 2009, will soon begin her new role as CDC Country Director in Burma. During her time in Cambodia, Dr. Warren and her team focused on investigating outbreaks of diseases and cooperated with a wide range Cambodian and international partners to identify effective methods of prevention and treatment. For those of us who have interacted and worked with Dr. Warren, we are well aware of not only her professionalism and expertise; she is also a pleasure to spend time with and has a warm personality. She was dedicated to improving the overall quality of health in Cambodia, and her example served as inspiration for countless others. I want to thank Dr. Warren for her contributions to the Cambodian people and to the U.S. Embassy community. She has truly made a difference and will be greatly missed. I am grateful for the hard work and important contributions of Dr. Warren and others committed to the fight again HIV/AIDS in Cambodia. To the people of the Roka community, we stand with you and will continue to provide support in dealing with the recent outbreak. In response to this tragic situation, I encourage everyone to honor people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS. The people of Roka need our compassion and ongoing care more than ever. Furthermore, it is important to recognize the hard work of health workers, scientists, and community members providing assistance. To reach the goal of an AIDS-free generation in Cambodia, we need to learn as much as we can from this recent event and renew our efforts to ensure that something like this does not happen again. #AmbTodd #Cambodia To read more from Ambassador Todds blog, go here: blogs.usembassy.gov/todd
Posted on: Sun, 25 Jan 2015 07:43:00 +0000
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