240 students, faculty, and staff members attended the World AIDS Day
ceremony hosted at the University of Cambodia (UC) on December 1, 2011. The
campaign was widely celebrated throughout Cambodia and around the world. UC and
People Health Development (PHD) Association co-organized the event themed, “Getting
to Zero,” which refers to the three goals of the World AIDS Campaign: zero new
HIV infections, zero AIDS-related deaths, and zero discrimination. H.E. Tea
Phalla, Deputy Director, National AIDS Authority (NAA), Por Malis, Vice
President for Operations, and Ou Ratanak, Executive Director of PHD, delivered
remarks at the well-attended event.
It is very
important for people to take preventative measures to protect themselves from
infection, stated to H.E. Tea Phalla. He also encouraged people to have only
one partner and to use condoms if necessary.
After Por Malis
expressed that UC has been happy working with PHD and invited more UC students
to attend the HIV/AIDS training course, Ou Ratanak told the audience that the
number of people infected with HIV/AIDS in Cambodia has been decreasing because
Cambodians know more about HIV/AIDS. Moreover, people living with HIV/AIDS are
not discriminated against here, and they are encouraged to continue living
productive lives, he stated.
After the speeches,
students performed a skit, “Neglecting is Lost, and Carefulness is Existence,”
that highlighted how HIV/AIDS can be transmitted through sex and drug use, and
why it is important to be knowledgeable about these issues. Students were then
invited to participate in a question and answer competition.
Afterwards, the
students, staff, and faculty members were given a red ribbon to wear to
symbolize their commitment to HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention.
The
event was sponsored by the MTV- Staying Alive Foundation.
Source: UC Bulletin December 2011, Page 19
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