The Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) has successfully concluded a four-year (2019-2023) healthcare project which focused on the health of mothers and children.

The “Project for Strengthening Maternal and Child Health in the North-Eastern Regions of Cambodia” was celebrated at a November 15 conference which shared its results. 

The event was chaired by KOICA country director Choi Moon-jung and health ministry secretary of state Sung Vinntak. Also in attendance were officials from several provincial health departments, along with representatives from the communities which were served by the project.

“This project is in line with Cambodia’s vision to provide better services to everyone, particularly in the provincial areas,” said Choi. 

“At KOICA, we are committed to supporting Cambodia’s health sector in order to enhance the health and well-being of its citizens. We plan to continue and expand our support,” she added.

Launched with a budget of $7.7 million from South Korea, the project aimed to improve healthcare for mothers and newborns in Ratanakkiri and Mondulkiri provinces. 

With a focus on capacity building, enhancing healthcare environments, outreach services, and community awareness, the project has made notable strides, according to KOICA. 

The project saw the construction of five new maternal and child care units, each equipped with state-of-the-art facilities. In addition, over 600 healthcare staff underwent comprehensive training.

“The project also provided essential training to 2,410 Village Health Support Groups, improving grassroots healthcare knowledge. This initiative was a crucial step in strengthening community-based health systems,” said KOICA.

“The major achievement of the project was the delivery of extensive healthcare services to approximately 74,000 women and children, underscoring the project’s far-reaching impact on vulnerable demographics,” it added.

Additionally, various community health awareness initiatives reached over 140,000 individuals. The project also facilitated patient referrals by equipping hospitals and health centres with essential medical resources, including ambulances, motor boats, and a range of medical equipment.

 “We extend our sincere gratitude to KOICA and the people of South Korea for their invaluable support for this project. It has significantly enhanced the quality of maternal and child health services in our region,” said Vinntak.

 “The project’s focus on capacity building for health personnel, along with the provision of necessary infrastructure like maternal and child care units and medical equipment, has been fundamental in these improvements,” he added.