Cambodia, one of the poorest countries in Asia, is still recovering from civil conflicts and long-term economic stagnation. More than a third of the population lives below the poverty line, and 15–20% of the population in extreme poverty. Cambodia also belongs to the countries with the highest HIV prevalence in Asia. Out of over 14 million inhabitants, according to official statistics from 2007, an estimated 75,000 people were infected with the HIV virus, and nearly 35,000 of them underwent antiretroviral treatment by the end of 2009.

Magna Children in Need launched a healthcare program for children with HIV in Cambodia in 2003, and in 2006, with the support of Slovak Aid, also a program to prevent mother-to-child transmission of the virus. Pregnant women with HIV nowadays have a great chance of giving birth to a healthy child who will not be infected. This requires care before, during, and after childbirth. The virus transmission prevention project was financially supported by SlovakAid for 18 months, and thanks to other donors and sponsors, it still operates today.

The virus transmission prevention program was launched in 2006 in five hospitals and health facilities, and from 2008 it expanded to six. In two years since its launch, 320 women with HIV went through the program; 232 children were born in it, 222 of them without HIV.

The program that Magna operates in Cambodia is the largest in comprehensive mother-and-child care in the country. By the end of 2010, 500 women had successfully entered the program, with a 96% success rate in preventing mother-to-child HIV transmission.

Within healthcare, Magna ensures access to antiretroviral treatment – a combination of drugs that keep the virus under control – counseling, and prevention. Their presence in Cambodia has expanded to include care for orphans, education, and regular home-care visits for clients with HIV.

In addition to the mother-to-child HIV transmission prevention program, SlovakAid supported an education project for children with HIV in 2004–2007, and thanks to this project Magna launched outpatient treatment for these children.

Magna had previously operated an orphanage with treatment for children with HIV, and continues to care for these children even after the end of financial support from SlovakAid for projects in Cambodia.

Magna currently provides healthcare for approximately 300 Cambodian children with HIV and approximately 250 children born to mothers with HIV. In two orphanages that Magna continues to operate, 50 children with HIV live, and a school serves 85 children.

The mother-to-child HIV transmission prevention project is also operated by Magna in Kenya, Congo, and Vietnam.

According to a UNAIDS report, 17.5 million children lost one or both parents as a result of AIDS in 2008. These children, more than other orphans, face poverty and abuse. HIV/AIDS often means stigma and discrimination, denial of access to healthcare and education. That is why the fight against HIV must also include fighting against discrimination of people. After all, this also contributes to people hesitating and not taking advantage of voluntary HIV testing. Early detection of the virus and initiation of treatment truly means prolonging life.

Source: http:// www.magna.sk

The article was published in the bulletin Development Aid – Autumn 2010*. It is published by the Platform of Non-Governmental Development Organizations (MVRO), which is an association of legal entities – an umbrella organization of 31 (23 regular members and 8 observers) Slovak non-governmental organizations that deal mainly with foreign development and humanitarian aid. http://www.mvro.sk*