Pernod Ricard Cambodge CEO Daren Ong (left) donates rapid Covid tests to health ministry. Heng Chivoan
Pernod Ricard Cambodge Co Ltd provided 4,000 Covid-19 rapid antigen test kits to the Ministry of Health on the morning of May 17 to be distributed to referral hospitals across Cambodia.
In a press release, the company said this is the second time it has provided rapid antigen test kits to Cambodia in support of the government’s efforts to prevent the transmission of the virus in the country.
Health minister Mam Bun Heng said the use of the rapid antigen test for all patients who come to Cambodia’s health centres for any kind of medical treatment has become standard operating procedure across the nation’s healthcare system.
“In order to increase the effectiveness of health services in public hospitals, the ministry recommends that all hospitals use these rapid tests to check for the Covid-19 virus,” he said.
Pernod Ricard Cambodge chairman Daren Ong told reporters after the handover ceremony that the fight against Covid-19 was of paramount importance to Cambodia and testing for the virus was a key part of the battle because when someone knows that they are positive for Covid-19 they can quarantine and prevent further transmission of the disease.
“The health ministry is in charge of combating the Covid-19 epidemic, so we want to help them with this important work,” he said.
According to Ong, the tests will assist the work being done by the frontline medical staff, volunteers and doctors because the rapid tests will allow them to diagnose those with Covid-19 faster and with accuracy, quality and safety.
The Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications has also provided 100,000 standard Q Covid-19 rapid antigen test kits to the Samdech Techo Voluntary Youth Doctor Association for use in the fight against Covid-19, according to their press release on May 17.
“The [telecommunications ministry] calls on all citizens to take care of their health and to strictly implement the guidelines of the health ministry and to follow Prime Minister Hun Sen’s ‘three protections and three don’ts’ guideline in order to prevent the spread of Covid-19,” said the press release.
