Cambodia has excelled in addressing the reduction of HIV amongst its population. Following its
reduction of HIV rates from 2% of the adult population in 1998 to less than 0.9% in 2006, Cambodia is
recognised as both a regional and world leader in reducing HIV prevalence.  
The Ministry of Health’s current ‘3.0’ strategy aims to achieve practically zero new infections by
2020, through implementing a ‘linked approach’, recognised as an international best practice. This
strategy introduces HIV testing, education, treatment and counselling as a routine process within
maternal healthcare. This has the dual advantage of preventing most mother‐to‐child transmissions,
thus reducing the HIV rate, and as Cambodia expands its maternal health care services, eventually
screening practically every mother and child for HIV and providing treatment if necessary.
However, according to experiences in other countries, Cambodia’s continued success depends upon
reducing HIV transmissions amongst its most at risk populations, such as those involved in the sex
industry and injecting drug users. This is crucial, as these high risk persons can transfer HIV to those
considered low risk, through occurrences such as a man contracting HIV from a sex worker, and then
passing it onto his wife. Addressing this issue has become more difficult since brothels were shut
down, as sex workers are more difficult to target with crucial health services and education
campaigns.  
This paper examines: the present situation in Cambodia regarding HIV/AIDS; how HIV/AIDS issues
vary across Cambodian society; Cambodia’s public health policies towards this issue; best practices in
dealing with this issue; and what Cambodia can do to continue its success in dealing with HIV/AIDS