The Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation officially launched the ATscale project on October 26. HEALTH MINISTRY
The Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation officially launched the ATscale project on October 26.
Assistive technology (AT) is an umbrella term for assistive products such as wheelchairs, hearing aids, prostheses, eyeglasses or digital devices, and their related systems and services. ATscale, the Global Partnership for Assistive Technology (AT), is a cross-sector global partnership, hosted by the UN, with the mission of transforming people’s lives through AT.
The launch ceremony was presided over by health minister Chheang Ra and social affairs minister Chea Somethy, with numerous representatives of partner organisations in attendance.
By strengthening rehabilitation services, the government aims to send a message that it will not abandon anyone with a disability, but will offer them hope.
The health ministry and the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sport came together to create a joint investment plan to address key issues the population faces in getting the assistive technology they need.
The consultative process was led by government officials from the ministries, and included input from the People with Disabilities Foundation (PWDF) and representatives from the Cambodia Disabled People’s Organisation (CDPO).
With investment of $4.5 million over three years (2023-25), it aims to expand physical rehabilitation services, particularly prosthetics and wheelchairs. It will also scale up vision screenings and improve the provision of affordable eyeglasses in the public sector. This investment is expected to help an additional 274,000 people get the AT they need.
ATscale has selected a consortium of partners – the Clinton Health Access Initiative, the Humanity & Inclusion, and the CDPO – to provide management and coordination support to the concerned ministries for the implementation of the plan.
The health ministry explained that the project will not only provide prosthetic limbs, but also dignity and a better life.
Ra explained that the priority policy of the government is to maintain peace, political stability and security, which he said are important conditions for economic development and growth, the reduction of poverty and improvements to living standards.
“Under the previous mandate, the health sector has made significant progress. Primary healthcare improvements have contributed to reducing the maximum morbidity and mortality of infants, 5-year-old children, and women with infectious diseases such as AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis,” he said.
He added that economic and demographic growth has led to an increase in population and the number of elderly people, which will increase the burden of non-communicable diseases, mental health problems and the need for services for the senile, in the future.
“This collaboration will create a comprehensive system and services for rehabilitation and prosthetic limbs to serve the interests of people with disabilities,” he said.
Social affairs minister Somethy described the programme as a demonstration of the government’s commitment and willingness to expand and improve the infrastructure of sustainable rehabilitation services. It aims to equip people with disabilities with AT, as well as improving programme management and partner coordination.
He said that in Cambodia, there are a total of 689,457 people living with disabilities aged 5 and over, equivalent to 4.9 per cent of the total population (according to the 2019 census). The prevalence of blindness was 0.37 per cent in 2019.
The main causes of disability are disease, malnutrition, genetic disorders, traffic accidents, occupational accidents, landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXOs), violence, disasters, aging and other causes that vary with demographics and time. He expressed hopes that the ATscale programme will increase the provision of AT.
