A NEW organization, aimed at raising health care standards nationwide and promoting the welfare of nurses, has just been launched in Phnom Penh.

The Cambodian Nurses Association (CNA), a voluntary organization set up by local nurses, held its inaugural ceremony on July 30.

"The first thing we hope to do is to develop the nursing profession and to set up a standard of nursing care in Cambodia, as there isn't one at the moment," said Beng Simeth, assistant project manager at Redd Barna-Cambodia, who is working for the association in his spare time.

The CNA has three objectives:

• To improve the standard of health in Cambodia, especially in rural areas.

• To promote and maintain high standards of nursing ethics and behavior.

• To develop the profession, in terms of practice, management, education, research plus the economical and social welfare of nurses.

The association, temporarily based in the Central Nursing School, is looking for funding and support from similar organizations abroad and by its liaison with NGOs working locally.

The Norwegian NGO Redd Barna has budgeted $3,000 towards educational workshops for the association this year, according to Simeth.

The CNA's contact with the Thai Nurses Association has enabled Khmer nurses to apply for scholarships to train in Thailand.

The association wants to see Cambodian nurses trained to international standards and Simeth said that the CNA is "the first step" in developing the health of the country.