Cambodia is among 10 countries that achieved accelerated progress in maternal and child health – ahead of comparable countries – by meeting goals to reduce mortality among those population groups, according to a recent cross-country analysis by the WHO.

Progress among the 10 countries, which also included Vietnam, Laos, Bangladesh and China, can be linked to consistent and coordinated policy and program input across various sectors, the analysis found.

It says that Cambodia specifically based its planning on research findings, developed a midwifery training and incentive scheme and increased government spending.

The Kingdom’s success was also due to growing stability, economic growth and poverty reduction, and increased information on health services, according to Iman Morooka, spokeswoman with UNICEF Cambodia.

“UNICEF and development partners have played an important role in this success,” she said, attributing gains to supporting improvements in health facilities, increased access to health services and the Health Equity Fund.