The number of new HIV infections in Cambodia in 2023 fell by 100 when compared to the previous year, according to a joint press release from the National AIDS Authority and UNAIDS. The statement attributed the decrease to the Kingdom’s robust response to HIV/AIDS.

The July 8 joint release noted that scientific analysis conducted in early 2024 indicated that the number of new infections decreased from 1,300 in 2022 to 1,200 in 2023.

Transmissions from mother to child also fell, from 11 per cent in 2022 to 8 per cent in 2023.

Regarding the UN 95-95-95 targets – which hope that by 2030, 95 per cent of HIV-positive patients will know they have HIV, 95 per cent of patients who know they have HIV will receive treatment, and 95 per cent of HIV patients receiving treatment will show reduced viral loads – the Kingdom also recorded improved results, with the rate of the first target category increasing from 86 in 2022 to 89 in 2023.

“Cambodia has achieved 89-98-98 of the 95-95-95 targets. This is a positive sign that our joint efforts over the past year have been fruitful. Despite this, it is still far from our 2025 goal, which is to see 200 fewer new infections,” said the statement.

The authority and UNAIDS noted that there are still a number of challenges to be addressed, including new infections of HIV among key high-risk population groups, including men who have sex with men, transgender women, entertainment services workers and drug users.

Another challenge was that most new infections occurred among young people aged between 15 and 24, a sign that shows a decline in awareness among this age group.

UNAID estimates that in 2023, Cambodia had a total of 76,000 people living with HIV/AIDS. Of these, 68,151 were being treated with antiretroviral drugs.

In 2022, more than 10,000 people were unaware that they were infected with HIV, according to an estimate by the National AIDS Authority.