Delegates from the Rockefeller Foundation in New York, USA, along with several stakeholders, met with senior officials of the Ministry of Health to study the successful outcome of Cambodia’s Covid-19 vaccination campaign and other health systems.

Or Vandine, secretary of state at the ministry and head of the national Covid-19 vaccination committee, said she told the delegations that Cambodia’s success was due to the inspired leadership of Prime Minister Hun Sen.

“The Rockefeller Foundation delegation expressed their appreciation for his [Hun Sen] leadership in responding to the pandemic, and the remarkable results we achieved. They were particularly interested in our vaccine roll-out, which was among the best in the world,” she added.

The delegates who met with Vandine were Greg Kumak, health director of the Rockefeller Foundation. Kathryn Bolles, who serves as director of the Global Vaccination Initiative at the foundation, and Eric Arndt, director of the foundations regional office, along with Indian health officials, were also present.

Vandine said the delegates wanted to learn from the Kingdom’s experiences, and were very interested in hearing about how the health ministry had dealt with the virus.

“They have requested that we share our experiences, as the Rockefeller foundation is preparing a strategy to support countries in the region. I have requested that the foundation offer technical and financial support to Cambodia’s health sector, too. This will help us to continue to strengthen and promote our Primary Health Care Booster strategy [PHCB],” she added.

“I used the opportunity to speak about our health sector’s progress, as well the national strategic action plan 2023-2030. Another important project we are working on is the implementation of the national PHCB strategic plan,” she concluded.

The plan to promote PHCB is in the final stages of documentation, following extensive consultation with both national and international partners.

Cambodia has been extraordinarily successful in managing the Covid-19 outbreak, with its nationwide vaccination campaign reaching more than 95 per cent of the population. The jabs are free to all, including foreigners, regardless of race, caste or political leanings.

According to the ministry, Rockefeller will consider in supporting the ministry’s fourth national health strategy, especially on PHCB, which aims to focus on health care in the community in response to the management of non-communicable diseases. These include heart disease, cancer and high blood pressure.