Phnom Penh – UNFPA, The United Nations Population Fund in Cambodia provides 1,670 Dignity Kits along with communication materials to assist the National Committee for Counter Tracking (NCCT) of the Ministry of Interior in fighting against COVID-19 pandemic. The Dignity Kits will be distributed to vulnerable migrant returnees, particularly pregnant women and women at high risk of Gender-Based Violence (GBV)/Violence Against Women (VAW) through the national and sub-national levels. Approximately 100,00 migrant workers have returned to Cambodia since March and those returnees, especially pregnant women require continued access to sexual and reproductive health services and information 

Essential items that women and girls need in such an emergency, such as basic hygiene items, and useful information on COVID-19 are included. The communication and information materials included are advice for pregnant and lactating women to help protect themselves against COVID-19, reduce risk from infection, practice social distancing and tips for coping with stress at home, and necessary information on GBV/VAW response services during the pandemic.

“UNFPA is calling on governments and partners to prioritize the sexual and reproductive health of women and girls, and respond urgently to their needs,” said Mr. Daniel Alemu, UNFPA Acting Representative “Supporting people affected by humanitarian crises is not only the right thing but also wise thing to do to save lives and building resilience to avoid COVID-19 from cycling back to the vulnerable people and communities around the globe.”  

“We must maintain continuity of maternal health and other sexual and reproductive health services, including antenatal and postnatal care and access to a safe birth,” he said, adding “Frontline health workers must also be protected from COVID-19 and be provided with personal protective equipment to treat infected patients and continue to provide essential services.”

In Cambodia, UNFPA is working with the Royal Government of Cambodia, partners and other UN Agencies to:

• Achieve universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights
• Accelerate progress on the Program of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development including the three Zeros
• Improve the lives of women, adolescents and youth, enabled by population dynamics, human rights and gender equality.

UNFPA is the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency. Our mission is to deliver a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled.

For information, please contact:

Ms. Suzana Sorinchan

Advocacy & Partnerships Specialist

UNFPA Cambodia

Tel.: +855-23 215 519/216 295, Ext: 116

Email: sorinchan@unfpa.org