Prime Minister Hun Sen has allowed the Ministry of Health to recruit 3,000 nurses and include them in the state employment framework in 2021 to strengthen the Kingdom’s fight against Covid-19.

Hun Sen confirmed this on December 29 during his national address to announce the end of the November 28 community event – a reference to the first confirmed case of Covid-19 local transmission.

He said the decision was made after a discussion with health minister Mam Bun Heng about the number of nurses needed during a recent phone call, when Bun Heng said the ministry needed up to 5,000.

The medical staff will strengthen its capacity before being deployed to target areas.

“So, please be informed that [an additional] 3,000 people are integrated into the state framework for 2021. If there is still a shortage, we will think more carefully and arrange the deployment accordingly to address the issue.

“But I would like to say that the requirement for this selection is only for those who dare to fight with Covid-19.

“Of course, no one has the skills to fight against Covid-19 [because] it is a new occurrence ... But the question is, do they dare or are they willing to enter the battlefield?” he said.

In November, the Ministry of Civil Service announced the recruitment of more than 6,000 civil servants into various ministries, of which 1,300 will be recruited for the health ministry. The number will now be increased to 3,000 following the prime minister’s recommendation, according to civil service ministry spokesman Youk Bunna.

“As planned, we will increase [the recruitment] from 1,300 to 3,000 to support the health sector. Among the 3,000, we mostly focus on nurses working in the health sector, but there may also be some [other] necessary professionals in that field,” he said.

Bunna added that three ministries – health, civil service, and economy and finance – are jointly executing the recruitment work. The selection will be carried out by the health ministry, while the civil service ministry will be involved in monitoring the government’s policies and procedures for recruitment.

Hun Sen first recommended the inclusion of volunteer doctors and nurses for Covid-19 fight into the state framework on December 15.

Teav Sothearoth, who holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing from a university in the Thai capital Bangkok, is among those who have volunteered to fight against Covid-19.

Since April, Sothearoth had gone to collect samples for Covid-19 tests at the airport, Olympic Stadium and in the community as assigned. Besides this volunteer job, he is currently employed with the Mondulkiri provincial health department and a clinic in the province.

“I’m not afraid ... The most important thing is for us to protect ourselves. In the beginning, when the ministry announced [the opportunity] for voluntary work, I stepped in immediately. I see that we need to have self-protection and self-confidence. I volunteered right away as I want to serve our compatriots,” he said.

Sothearoth said he had received a lot of training from the health ministry on self-protection and safety. He will take an exam to enter the state framework once the health ministry announces the recruitment.

“I have prepared the documents so that when the ministry announces the selection exam, I will submit it immediately. For me, if I pass, I would join the fight against Covid-19 as assigned. I will not hesitate, but the most important thing is whether we pass the exam or not,” he said.