Thursday, 13 November 2008

Govt urges HIV/Aids NGOs to get licensed

The Phnom Penh Post

Written by Khoun Leakhana
Thursday, 13 November 2008

THE government has called on HIV/Aids NGOs to obtain government licences in an attempt to place their health services in the regulatory fold.

Nuth Sokhom, president of the National Aids Authority, told the Post last week that the licences would be aimed at increasing monitoring and improving quality in the sector.

"We need local NGOs who are working in HIV/Aids programs to get licences to operate in their field of work because we have had problems with them working with the communities unlicensed," he said.

He applauded the work of HIV/Aids NGOs, but said the government needed to ensure they were qualified to offer health advice.

"We have more difficulty providing care when NGOs do not have licences. If there is a problem, the government cannot help," he said.

"I have asked for more NGOs to cooperate with the government so that together we can try to reduce the prevalence of HIV/Aids."

There are currently 170 institutions working in the field of HIV/Aids in Cambodia, but not all groups are licensed.

"All NGOs should join together to work on a national program," said Kem ley, executive director of the HIV/Aids coordinating committee.

"I support the government's appeal, but once this happens, NGOs should discuss with representatives how to show real action in society."

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