AIDS Kills 2,608 Cambodians in 2011, Down 11 Percent

The secretary-general of the National AIDS Authority said on Jan. 5 that 2,608 Cambodians died of AIDS in 2011, an 11 percent decline from 2010. "We see a good result in our efforts to fight against HIV/AIDS," said Dr. Teng Kunthy, while acknowledging the need to do more. New infections declined by 12 percent, from 1,726 (including 256 children) in 2010 to 1,517 (including 191 children) in 2011. According to the UN Development Program's 2011 survey on the socioeconomic impact of HIV in the nation, an estimated 75,000 Cambodians in 60,000 households are living with HIV/AIDS. About 96.7 percent of these individuals have received antiretroviral therapy. Kunthy said his country needs $58 million a year to combat HIV. Cambodia relies on external donors for more than 90 percent of its anti-AIDS efforts.

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