In an ongoing effort to enhance healthcare services in Cambodia, the Ministry of Health is partnering with the GX Foundation to broaden cataract screening and treatment services across targeted provinces while intensifying efforts against dengue fever.
During a recent meeting with Leung Chun-Ying, Director-General of the China GX Foundation, Health Minister Chheang Ra acknowledged the foundation’s role in enhancing health services. The GX Foundation’s support has notably included sending doctors to perform cataract surgeries, addressing over 6,000 cases in Kampong Cham and Prey Veng provinces.
The Health Minister emphasized the positive ongoing collaboration between the two institutions. This partnership has prompted the Ministry to propose funding for the potential expansion of eye health services in provinces and eye care centers at district hospitals, as well as at the community level. This expansion involves the provision of equipment and technology for comprehensive eye examinations, treatment, and surgeries.
Additionally, the Ministry is exploring opportunities to assist in training dengue specialists, contributing to the future expansion of the dengue control plan. Leung Chun-Ying affirmed the foundation’s commitment to extending the cataract elimination project to other provinces based on the Ministry’s request, contributing to the reduction of visual impairment in Cambodia.
As part of the ‘Dengue Fever Project,’ the GX Foundation pledged support and expressed its commitment to dispatch an expert team in collaboration with the Ministry to inspect locations in provinces, aiming to prevent and control dengue fever.
Dr. Try Meng Sry, an Ophthalmologist at Preah Ang Duong Hospital, lauded the cooperation, emphasizing its positive impact on the eye health of Cambodians. He noted that it aligns with the Ministry’s vision to reduce blindness by 2030. The collaboration is particularly beneficial for individuals residing in remote areas, providing them access to eye examinations and treatments that might be challenging to obtain at major hospitals.
The Ministry officially announced the implementation of a roadmap for sub-national blind management and prevention from 2021 to 2030. The goal is to reduce blindness to 0.35% by 2030, serving as a foundation for sub-national levels to develop annual action plans and deliver timely eye healthcare services across Cambodia.
According to the government’s five-year achievements report (2017-2021), more than 200,000 eye consultations and examinations were reported nationwide in public health facilities and private clinics by 2021, with over 28,000 eye surgeries conducted.
