PHJ activities to improve maternal and child health care services in rural areas
In 2003, PHJ established its Cambodia Office in Kampong Thom Province and launched health care service improvement projects.
In 2014, PHJ moved its office to Kampong Cham Province to carry out these projects in closer cooperation with municipal health administration offices and local communities. These activities include the training of health center staff in health and management skills and working with health centers to foster cooperation in the provision of maternal and child health instruction in local communities. The following projects are currently underway:
Project for Supporting Health System Strengthening for Safe Pregnancy and Child Delivery in Sout Nikom Operational Health District, Siem Reap Province
Background
Siem Reap Province faces various health issues, some of major health challenges being related to pregnancy and delivery. For instance, despite the fact that more than 90% of pregnant women attend antenatal care (ANC), only 50% of them deliver at health facilities (institutional delivery) or are attended by skilled health staff.
In addition, there is a wide disparity between the provincial capital and the rural areas. The rural areas are likely to be left behind unlike the provincial capital, which continues to develop thanks to active tourism and support from the international community. Sout Nikom Operational Health District (Sout Nikom OD) has the lowest ANC rate, institutional delivery rate, and the rate of birth attended by skilled health staff compared to other regions within the same province, which shows many women in Sout Nikom OD being left behind.
Activity overview
Supporting the strengthening of local health systems in order to promote safe pregnancy and child delivery for all women.
| Duration of activity | April 4, 2023 to April 3, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Implementation area | Sout Nikom Operational Health District, Siem Reap Province |
| Target |
[Direct beneficiaries] ・Pregnant women: Approx. 19,662 (Expected number for the duration of 3 years) ・2 Siem Reap Provincial Health Department staff ・5 Sout Nikom OD staff ・10 Sout Nikom referral hospital staff ・Approx. 100 health center (HC) staff ・Approx. 160 health volunteers [Indirect Beneficiaries] |
| Activity content |
(1) Improving midwifery services and strengthening collaboration between the referral hospital and the health centers (supply side) ・Holding MCAT(* meetings regularly at Sout Nikom OD ・Holding a study session for supportive supervision for OD staff ・Supporting OD staff to conduct supportive supervision regularly ・Conducting Emergency Triage Assessment training for referral hospital staff and HC staff ・Conducting a workshop of “Safe Delivery application” and “e-Learning Information, Education, and Communication (IEC)” for midwives ・Conducting skill-enhancement training (humanized maternity care and hospitality) for midwives ・Monitoring HC staff meetings ・Conducting Minimum Package of Activities (MPA) training for HC staff ・Supporting OD staff to conduct supervision regularly for referral cases and 24-hour services (2) Enhancing health volunteers’ capacity and strengthening coordination between HCs and communities (community) (3) Improving knowledge of local residents on maternal and child health, especially safe pregnancy and childbirth (demand side) |
| Target result |
(1) Improving midwifery services and strengthening collaboration between the referral hospital and the HCs
(2) Enhancing health volunteers’ capacity and strengthening coordination between HCs and communities (3) Improving knowledge of local residents on maternal and child health, especially safe pregnancy and childbirth |
| funds | Supported by the JICA Partnership Program, companies, organization, and individual donors |
*MCAT：Midwifery Coordination Alliance Team
Project to strengthen community care and support network for children in Kampong Cham Province（2018.11-2023.1）
Project site
Steung Trang Operational District (OD)
(4 of the 12 health centers in Steung Trang OD)
Project goals
(1) Encouraging cooperation between health centers and local communities so that children can enjoy ready access to adequate health services
(2) Enhancing awareness in communities of the need for children’s health care and healthy diets
Beneficiaries
4,751 children under five years of age and their care-givers, OD staff, 30 health center staff, 67 health volunteers, and 75 maternal and child health volunteers operating under 4 health centers serving 34 villages with a total population of 40,4695
Funds for this project were provided through an NGO grant from the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the donations of companies and individuals.
Country Information
| Cambodia | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Area | 181,000 sq. km | 378,000 sq. km |
| Population | 15.76million | 128 million |
| Gross national income per capita | US$1,140 | US$42,000 |
| Ethnic groups | Khmer 97.6%, Cham 1.2%, Chinese 0.1% |
Japanese 98.5%, Ainu, Korean, Chinese |
| Language | Khmer | Japanese |
| Religion | Buddhist 97.9%, Moslim 1.1% | Shinto + Buddhist 84%, Christian 2%, Others 7.8% |
| Life expectancy | 70 years | 85 years |
| Fertility rate | 2.6 children born/woman | 1.5 children born/woman |
| Literacy rate | 74% | 100% |
| Infant mortality rate | 23 / 1000 live births | 2 / 1000 live births |
| Under 5 mortality rate | 27 / 1000 | 2 / 1000 |
| Percentage of 1 year olds fully immunized against measles |
81% | 96% |
| Maternal mortaility rate | 160 persons/ 100,000 | 5 persons / 100,000 |
| Skilled attendant at delivery | 89% | 100% |
| HIV/AIDS prevalence rate（15-49 years） | 0.5% | less than 0.1% |
Source：UNICEF 2021