Caring for the Whole Family in Cambodia

OCTOBER 2008 — Only 14 years old, Darin Hong didn't want to attend school anymore. Having been tagged as an "AIDS child" by her classmates and those in her village, she found it hard to make friends. Having an HIV positive father brought on much discrimination from her peers and other villagers, with many not wanting to talk to her or visit her house for fear of getting HIV.

When FHI/Cambodia started working in Battambang province, where Darin's family lives, her story was typical of children and families affected by HIV and AIDS. FHI was among the first international NGOs to work with the local government and people living with HIV (PLHIV) support groups to provide a family-centered and community-based care and support program. FHI provided programmatic and technical support to six local implementing agencies, training their staff and community volunteers to effectively work with HIV-affected families.

All families enrolled in the program are supported by home-based care teams that assess their needs. The teams act as case managers, providing care and counseling, linking clients to services at local health centers and hospitals, and advocating for increased support. Team members also help organize community sensitization to reduce discrimination and increase acceptance, and provide other support services such as therapeutic play groups, youth groups, and parenting meetings.

At the facility level, FHI's assistance has led to quality integrated care and treatment services, now offered in the same outpatient clinics for parents, caregivers, and children with HIV. One of FHI's implementing agencies supported Darin's father to access antiretroviral and other treatment from the nearby referral hospital and provided regular home-based care support. Darin's family was also supported with supplementary food, seeds for a home garden, and a pig, all which contributed greatly to the family's wellbeing.

Now three years later, Darin is back at school and happily completing year 10. With a lot of encouragement, counseling, and some material support from field staff, Darin regained the confidence to go back to school. "People don't discriminate against me anymore. I now have friends and villagers visit my family," says Darin.

Being on ART has helped her father regain his strength. Now with the energy to return to farming, he has renewed hopes for his family's future. With the support from one of FHI's implementing agencies, he now feels accepted within his community.

Though palliative care services still have a way to go in Cambodia—and medicines such as morphine are difficult to access—the link from hospital to community and home has significantly increased access to palliative care services and given hope to thousands of Cambodian families.

PHOTO: Cambodian Buddhist monks are often actively involved in home-based care activities. (FHI/Cambodia)