Interview: Cooperation with China is key to Cambodia's healt

by Xue Lei, Nguon Sovan

PHNOM PENH, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Health cooperation between Cambodia and China is key to the long-term development of health sector in the Southeast Asian country, Cambodian health minister Mam Bunheng has told Xinhua in an interview.

"Our bilateral cooperation is a comprehensive approach with a very clear action plan for the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership of Cooperation between the two countries," he said on Saturday.

He said China is "most supportive" of Cambodia's national strategic development plan and health strategic plan.

"This cooperation demonstrates the long-term historical relationship, friendship and solidarity between the two countries and peoples," Bunheng said.

According to the minister, a number of agreements and memorandums of understanding (MoUs) in medical treatment and public health have been signed between the two countries in recent years, focusing on technical cooperation, human resources development for health professionals, malaria treatment, and traditional medicine research.

Besides, China has funded the construction of hospital buildings across Cambodia and donated a variety of medical equipment and supplies, he added.

One of the China's remarkable donations was the provision of 200 sets of ambulances and 200 sets of ultrasound machines to Cambodia last year, said Bunheng.

"The pieces of equipment have been used effectively to serve the Cambodian people, especially those living in remote areas," he said.

The minister said Cambodia was very satisfied with good cooperation in health sector between the two countries and expressed his sincere thanks to China for having provided support based on the needs of Cambodia.

Asked about any difficulty in carrying out China-backed health projects, the minister said that it was important that all cooperation projects should be linked with capacity building in order to improve both health services and health professional capacity.

Bunheng suggested that to deepen bilateral cooperation in medical treatment and public health, the two countries need to encourage the exchange of knowledge, experience and skills among health professionals.

Maternal and child health, communicable diseases control, non-communicable disease control and health system strengthening are the priorities of the ministry's work now, according to Bunheng.

"So far, China has supported us for health system strengthening, communicable diseases control, and capacity building for institutions and health professionals," he said.

According to Bunheng, Li Bin, minister of the China's National Health and Family Planning Commission, is expected to visit to Cambodia in December. During her trip, a MoU on health cooperation will be signed between the two countries.

He said the upcoming MoU will focus on the control of emerging infectious diseases, particularly human avian influenza, prevention and control of HIV/AIDS, traditional medicine, trauma surgery, and prevention and control of Malaria.