Cambodia is poised to become the first country in the region to introduce long-acting injectable Cabotegravir (CAB-LA) for individuals at risk of HIV. This groundbreaking initiative aims to prevent HIV transmission through exposure and marks a significant milestone in regional healthcare.
Patricia Ongpin, UNAIDS Country Director for Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Malaysia, announced this development during a workshop on CAB-LA held on Tuesday. Organized by the Ministry of Health’s National Center for HIV/AIDS, Dermatology, and STD, the workshop focused on preparing for the phased implementation of CAB-LA. It also sought to train healthcare professionals on administering CAB-LA as part of the HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) program.
Ongpin highlighted Cambodia’s leadership in adopting long-acting PrEP methods, including both CAB-LA and the Dapivirine Vaginal Ring (DVR), which are set to roll out in the coming months. According to Hok Kim Chheng, Director General of the Ministry of Health, the workshop trained newly certified instructors to educate other healthcare providers on delivering CAB-LA services.
The event brought together experts from Cambodia, the United States, Thailand, and Laos, with participants representing a wide range of organizations. These included the National Center for HIV/AIDS, Dermatology, and STD (NCHADS), National AIDS Authority (NAA), WHO, UNAIDS, USAID, and several development partners. Of the 173 attendees, 115 participated in person, while 58 joined virtually from 13 countries.
Kim Chheng emphasized that the training covered key aspects of providing CAB-LA, including client eligibility, counseling, and data collection. CAB-LA, a newly available injectable medication, offers effective HIV prevention for individuals at risk of exposure.
Seum Sophal, an officer from the Health Action Coordinating Committee (HACC), revealed that approximately 1,000 doses of CAB-LA will be distributed during the first phase of implementation. He added that the introduction of DVR is also on the horizon, further enhancing HIV prevention efforts in Cambodia.
This initiative underscores Cambodia’s commitment to advancing public health and tackling HIV through innovative solutions.
