Japanese Embassy in Phnom Penh, 7 December 2022 – The Japanese Government through the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) handed over 290 Midwifery kits, 150 delivery beds, 50 sets of Vacuum Extractors, and ICT Equipment for E-learning and Telemedicine to the National Maternal and Child Health Center (NMCHC) of the Ministry of Health in a handover ceremony held at the Embassy of Japan in Phnom Penh today.
The essential medical equipment for Emergency Obstetric Care is to be provided to public healthcare facilities to ensure that midwives and health providers can save women’s and babies’ lives. Midwifery kits contain all the necessary equipment to assist the delivery of a baby. New delivery beds will be given to health facilities that are using old delivery beds which are typically made of stainless steel. One piece of life-saving equipment is a vacuum extractor which is used to facilitate delivery in prolonged labour. In addition to this, ambulances and other essential medical equipment are going to be provided in next year.
H.E. Professor Mam Bunheng, Minister of Health, expressed his deep gratitude to the Government and people of Japan, including His Excellency Mikami Masahiro, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Kingdom of Cambodia, that always provides both technical and financial support to the Royal Government of Cambodia to strengthen the public health sector including health infrastructure, human resources development, and essential medical equipment. Especially, in a critical condition where Cambodia and the world have been affected by the COVID-19 epidemic, the Japanese government and the people of Japan have provided lifesaving medical equipment like the case of today. Essential medical equipment for emergency care, emergency obstetric and newborn care, including ambulances, was provided by the Japanese Government through UNFPA to the Ministry of Health. The Minister of Health would also like to thank UNFPA Country Representative and UNFPA Cambodia Team for supporting Cambodia's health sector. UNFPA has made a significant contribution to the country to achieving the Millennium Development Goals 4 and 5. The Ministry of Health cooperates strongly with UNFPA team, who always supports the Ministry in achieving its goals.
His Excellency Mr. Mikami Masahiro, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Kingdom of Cambodia says, “Japan has contributed to improving maternal, newborn and child health for a long time. Although neonatal mortality rate in Cambodia is improving, I understand that pregnant women and newborns still have difficulties to access to adequate healthcare, especially in rural areas. I think continuous improvement of this area is essential to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 3 (health and well-being for all) which I mentioned at the Official Project Launch. We are very pleased to contribute to this field by providing these equipment through UNFPA project.”
The Representative for UNFPA Cambodia, Ms. Sandra Bernklau stated, “This life saving medical equipment contributes towards the Ministry of Health’s ambition to ensure that all women have access to the support and care they need during the birth of their children. Alongside training for quality care, the equipment is key towards building a responsive, resilient health care system where everyone has access to quality care and no one is left behind, especially during childbirth. We are grateful to our partners, the Government of Japan and the Royal Government of Cambodia for working together towards these shared goals.”
UNFPA is working closely with the Royal Government of Cambodia towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. UNFPA focuses on achieving three transformative results which are: a Cambodia where no women dies giving birth, where all families have access to family planning support and commodities and where all women and girls are free from violence and abuse.
