Seng Sokvy has AIDS. Her husband, a section commander with the Halo Trust, died from the disease last October when she was pregnant with their first child. Their beautiful daughter, born three weeks later, died of AIDS in April.Siem Reap. She has been feeling quite well but in the past week has noticed bruising on her legs.
She is luckier than most because her family can afford to buy the anti-viral drugs that will hopefully prolong her life. "Before I married in 1998 my husband took a blood test. That is pretty normal in this country because of the AIDS problem. The results were negative."
"Last summer he got malaria but by August he was very ill and could not work. In September, he was diagnosed with AIDS and he died on October 3rd." Their daughter was born on October 26th, a healthy baby. Mother and daughter had a blood test - both The results were positive.
However, last March the baby got meningitis and TB and was tested again. The results were positive. She died in hospital on April 9th and Sokvy was diagnosed shortly afterwards. "I am angry with the Government for not doing more to make people aware of AIDS. I suppose I am angry with my husband as well for giving it to me." She thinks her husband probably picked up the virus before he met her.
Last year, Halo lost five of its staff to AIDS, and so far this year four staff have died from the disease. "It is becoming a problem and as a result we have put in place an AIDS policy," says David McMahon, Halo's deputy programme manager in Cambodia. Members of staff are given regular talks about AIDS prevention and are issued with condoms with their monthly salaries. In the various Halo offices and centres, there are jars of condoms available. "We buy 10,000 condoms a month."
If a Halo worker is ill and shows the signs of AIDS, he is sent to a private doctor to be diagnosed. If HIV positive, he is given counselling and the illness is explained in full detail. "We help them to draw up a plan and to make provision for their future" says McMahon. However, most cannot afford the anti-viral drugs, which cost $250 a month.
It is now Halo policy to give a worker with AIDS a generous package when they become too ill to work.
Cambodia has the fastest growing HIV/AIDS epidemic in Asia and is on the way to becoming one of the worst affected countries in the world. It is estimated that 40 per cent of infection is spread by sex workers. Meanwhile, Sokvy is determined to continue working for Halo as long as possible. "What can I do but keep going as best I can, she says"