Like so many who dedicate their lives to combating the spread of HIV and AIDS, Men Kusal does so for very personal reasons.

She watched her brother-in-law’s family fall into poverty when he died shortly after being diagnosed with HIV, and witnessed the stigma his two sons - also HIV positive - were forced to carry. She vowed to do something about it, and started working with the first DCWO Home Based Care team (like Chhuon Mao does today). She explains their approach with pride.

“At DCWO, we firstly focus on poor positive women and orphans and vulnerable children. We help them with skills so that they can provide for their families and also education so that they know more about HIV and about how to stay healthy.”

After 12 years of working with local communities, Men Kusal knows better than anyone the work that is still to do.

“We need help training our staff and also training the community. We need to provide special support for the community and help positive people get to the referral hospital.

“We hope ActionAid can keep supporting us, especially with getting orphans and vulnerable children into schools and with ways for HIV positive women to earn a living and support themselves and their families.”

Spotlight on Cambodia