Cambodia

Cambodia was ravaged by more than 40 years of political instability, over a decade of war and the brutality of the Khmer Rouge regime. Today 78% of Cambodians live in deep poverty and healthcare provision is desperately poor.

• Four out of five Cambodians lives on less than $2 a day
• The country has the highest infant mortality rate in South East Asia (98 per 1,000 live births)
• Only one in six people has access to safe drinking water
• 58% of people in mountainous areas were living below the poverty line in 2004, up from 40% ten years earlier

While poverty has decreased overall in recent years, the health of indigenous people living in mountain areas has declined dramatically, along with the quality of health services available to them.

Health Poverty Action is working in these remote areas to:

Increase access to health services
In Mondulkiri and Ratanakiri we are helping indigenous people advocate for better healthcare and services.

Prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS
In Ratanakiri we are educating people about how to prevent the spread of HIV infection.

Improve health services
In Preah Vihear we are working with the Ministry of Health to improve the quality of health services offered to underserved communities.

Educate young people via radio and TV
We are working with the Cambodia Health Education Media Service to educate young people about sexual and reproductive health through radio shows.

Fight the incidence of Malaria
We are working across the country to reduce the prevalence of malaria, particularly among women and children.

Improve mothers’ access to health services
We are improving access to maternal health services for indigenous women in Cambodia and Peru, through a joint advocacy project.