HIV Hero
Recipient
The HIV Hero is supported by our Community Partner APN+
Seum Sophal
Cambodia
My name Seum Sophal, I was born in 1974 in Siem Reap, Cambodia which is the province of Angkor Wat Temple, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. I worked with various companies since 1996 and I married in 2000, and had one son. I found my HIV status in early 2000, in 2013, I moved to Phnom Penh, became CPN+ Program Officer and from 2018, I was Program Manager until 2023. Currently, 2024 I hold a position as FoNPAMs officer which is the Joint Forum of PLHIVs and KPs Network in Health Action Coordinating Committee (HACC). During these several years, I was involved and actively participated in HIV advocacy to seek support for the members of PLHIVs such advocate in the process of health equity card provision to PLHIVs from the government, engagement with relevant stakeholders for better treatment and improvement of ARVs regimen such as TLD, Stigma Index survey, led and organized 1st U=U Campaign in Cambodia. I attended the world stage arena to promote and advocate for better acceptance of U=U as mechanisms to reduce stigma and discrimination and motivate the suspected to do HIV testing so and so. I can speak English & Thai as well.
Brief information about your work
From 2010-2013 Branch Manager of Salvation Centre Cambodia (SCC, Local Organization)
I lead the development and implementation of program activities which respond in a timely and effective manner to the needs of the communities it serves, ensuring effective communication at all levels, management of relationships with staff, partner organizations and PLHIVs communities.
From 2014-2023 Program Manager of Cambodian People living with HIV Network (CPN+)
I oversaw the development of the program components of the organization’s strategic plan and organizational plan, monitoring implementation in accordance with the mission statement, and overseeing the development of annual budgets for the program components of the organization’s strategic and operational plans.
From 2024-to present, FoNPAMs Officer of Health Action Coordinating Committee, HACC) FoNPAMs is a Joint Forum of PLHIVs Network and KP Network.
Overall managed Community-led monitoring (CLM) which is an accountability mechanism for HIV responses at different levels, led and implemented by community-led organizations of people living with HIV, and networks of key populations in Cambodia we call FoNPAMs & DFoNPAMs, In Cambodia, we used and produced seven structured platforms to systematically and routinely collect and analyze data on HIV service delivery—including (1-Prevention, 2-PrEP, 3-STI service, 4-Care and Treatment, 5-Social Protection Scheme, 6-GBV & Rights , 7-Stigma and Discrimination).
Had experienced and involved with HIV sectors, both in Cambodia and regional and currently as CCM member representative of PLHIVs for GFATM in Cambodia for the years of 2024-2026 known as CCC in Cambodia.
What one achievement you’ve accomplished that you’re most proud of? Why?
Frankly speaking, I had two things in HIV works that made me proud of. One is the process of health equity card for PLHIVs that took more than seven years to bear fruitful results. Now, the government promulgated S.N.C 213 Circular allows all PLHIVs to possess this health equity card for their whole life. Second is U=U Campaign, which made me cry due to the time frame. We received late permission from the provincial governor to let us do the campaign which left us just one hour to star, but a letter of approval was just approved. Finally, the U=U Campaign was successful and published worldwide due to its unexpected outcome and impact.
What do you find most challenging about your work? Why?
The most challenging part of my work was the CLM project that I’d tried and tested for almost three years from 2020-2023, and this CLM is new to the local authority and health service providers. That’s why we received more reactions and challenges caused by the institutional barrier and were rejected by some unhappy people in our host country. Luckily, CLM was fully funded by GFATM for the current fiscal year from 2024-2026, and CLM was integrated into HIV Comprehensive National Strategic Plan 2024-2028 by National AIDS Authority without reluctance at all.
What do you do to recharge your battery?
Concentrating on day-to-day work is very important, seeking new knowledge by reading books and trying to do our best as whatever we think that the job we did is right. I do it without hesitation and move on. I discuss with our PLHIVs members on some issues that make us stuck and find out new ways to work on it without confrontation. One most important thing to me is just let it be and listen to music always.
What is your vulnerability and how do you overcome it?
My health and educational status are very weak. I’d finished formal education only in 9th grade. But I struggled a lot to learn English by myself until I knew how to read, write and speak, and work hard from volunteering in the community and reaching to be a manager at the National level. That’s how my life is. All these matters, maybe, because my attitude is calmer and more approachable to many people and one special thing for me is I like to listen more than talk.
You have been nominated for the HIV Hero category.
What was your reaction and please, tell us why?
Frankly speaking, I never dream or think that I will travel to reach this stage. Anyway, I would love to dedicate this wonderful reward to my PLHIVs community members who work and sacrifice their hardship and talent to advocate for better health care service and fight for reduction of stigma and discrimination together, that’s, this road is still a long way to go.
What is a warm/hopeful message that you would like to share with the communities in the Asia Pacific?
Hope is the key message for our PLHIVs members. We have to live full of hope, even though we are alone. Just remember the past twenty five years ago when we were first tested HIV positive, imagine no medicine, no family, no PLHIV communities, how hard we are struggling to create self-help-groups to assist each other. We were isolated and distanced ourself from the communities due to stigma and discrimination, but we all survived because of our dream and hope. Even now scientific nouveau find out modern ARVs, but stigma and discrimination is still a main barrier to reach our setting 95-95-95-95 goal. That’s how we All need to fight more and more to live with dignity, equity and mutual respect as human beings.
