A Nation Rebuilding Itself…

  Nirout Chun is 10 years old. He lives with his parents, his 12-year-old brother, and his 6-year-old sister. The family lives in a one-room concrete house in a village in the slums. The village is built above a sewage marsh. There is nowhere to go to the bathroom, but off the side of the house. The smell is inescapable, as is the heat. This is the only home Nirout has ever known.

Nevertheless, Nirout is very energetic and full of smiles. He loves to play football with the other kids in his village. They also like to play “the crocodile egg game,” where he and his friends have a pretend crocodile egg and someone has to guard the egg. The object of the game is to try to get the crocodile egg from whoever is defending it. Nirout says he is very good at this game. 

 

                                         

Children in Cambodia only attend school for a half day in the mornings or the afternoons in order to allow space for all students. Nirout attends the Destiny Rescue Learning Center in the mornings from 7:30-11am. The children sing songs and practice their Khmer alphabet. At 11am, Destiny Rescue serves Nirout and the other children lunch. Then Nirout goes to public school from 1-5pm. He is in grade 4 and studies Khmer, math, social studies, and science.

Nirout is the only one in his family who is not HIV positive. Both of his parents, his older brother, and his younger sister are all infected. His sister Minroza is often sick and has to stay home from school. When Nirout grows up, he says he wants to be a doctor so he can save lives.

 

   

The prevalence of HIV and AIDS in Cambodia is among the highest in Asia. It is estimated that 1.6 percent of Cambodian adults aged 15-49 are living with HIV or AIDS. 

The first case of HIV infection in Cambodia was reported in 1991 and was followed by a rapid rise in transmission. Cambodia’s national HIV prevalence rate is now the second highest in Asia.

But fortunately, Cambodia is considered one of the few success stories in the global fight against AIDS. Even though Cambodia is one of the poorest countries in the world, extraordinary efforts to prevent and control HIV have helped reduce the spread of HIV. Cambodia’s efforts provide evidence that well-focused and sustained prevention efforts can help reverse an HIV epidemic. Cambodia should also be praised for its progressive AIDS laws protecting people living with HIV from discrimination. 

HIV is finally on the decline in Cambodia. And thanks to organizations like Destiny Rescue, treatment is available to even the poorest of the poor. Destiny Rescue has helped to make sure that Nirout’s family continues to receive proper treatment. Our God is a big God and our hope is that Nirout will see all of his family members healed. Please pray for this family and for Cambodia.