Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - Disability survey underscores war legacy

Disability survey underscores war legacy

Disability survey underscores war legacy

Cambodia is one of just three countries in which “war” is cited as the top cause of disability over the past 23 years, according to a survey of 188 countries released earlier this month.

The study, published in the Lancet, examined disability and disease, ranking the top 10 causes of disability in each nation.

Every country listed back pain and major depression as a top-10 disability, with lower-back pain as the leading cause in most developed nations.

However, Cambodia, Rwanda and Nicaragua, home to some of the most violent conflicts of recent decades, were the only countries cited where violence was the leading cause of disability.

In Cambodia, landmines and exploded ordnance alone have caused 44,630 injuries between 1979 and 2013, according to the Cambodia Mine/UXO Victim Information System.

“Non-fatal dimensions of disease and injury will require more and more attention from health systems,” the Lancet report reads.

Following war, the most common causes of disability and disease in Cambodia were iron deficiencies, back pain, migraines, respiratory illness, depression and schizophrenia.

MOST VIEWED

  • Ministry orders all schools, public and private, to close for SEA Games

    From April 20 to May 18, all public and private educational institutions will be closed to maintain order and support Cambodia's hosting of the 32nd SEA Games and 12th ASEAN Para Games, said a directive from the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport. Cambodia will host the

  • Almost 9K tourists see equinox sunrise at Angkor Wat

    Nearly 9,000 visitors – including 2,226 international tourists – gathered at Angkor Wat on March 21 to view the spring equinox sunrise, according to a senior official of the Siem Reap provinical tourism department. Ngov Seng Kak, director of the department, said a total of 8,726 people visited Angkor Wat to

  • Angkor Beer strengthens national pride with golden new look and fresher taste

    Angkor Beer – the "Gold of Angkor" – has a new look, one that is more stylish and carries a premium appeal, as well as a fresher taste and smoother flavour, making it the perfect choice for any gathering. Angkor Beer recently launched its new design, one

  • Water supply authority assures public shortages over early ‘24

    The Phnom Penh Water Supply Authority (PPWSA) asked for understanding from Phnom Penh residents in some communes where water pressure is weak. They assured residents that all supply issues will be resolved by early 2024, but have suggested that residents use water sparingly in the meantime.

  • PM urges end to ‘baseless’ international Ream base accusations

    Prime Minister Hun Sen urges an end to “baseless” foreign accusations surrounding the development of the Kingdom’s Ream Naval Base, as the US has consistently suggested that the base is being expanded to accommodate a Chinese military presence. Hun Sen renewed his calls while

  • Khmer ballet documentary debuts April 1

    A new documentary, The Perfect Motion, or Tep Hattha in Khmer, will premiere to the public on April 1. The documentary film follows two intertwined storylines: the creation of a show called Metamorphosis by the late Princess Norodom Buppha Devi (her very last production) and the