CHILD welfare and development organization Unicef has entered a new Basic
Agreement of Cooperation with the government which aims to formalize existing
institutional ties and improve the delivery of Unicef programs .
The
agreement replaced an outdated 1952 contract and was signed on International
Children's Day, June 1, by the Minister of Education, Youth and Sports, Ung
Hout, and Unicef's country representative, Anne Bruzelius.
Unicef
Information Officer Tony Oliver said the agreement was important as it would
help strengthen the excellent cooperation and support provided by the government
for Unicef programs.
Oliver said the organization has been playing an
active role in 21 provinces to protect and improve living conditions for women
and children, and where necessary using government resources to deliver the
assistance to needy areas.
He said: "Unicef is lucky to have such good
cooperation with the government, Unicef's role is not so active in some areas
due to security reasons."
Oliver said with the government's help Unicef
had been able to deliver its Expanded Program on Immunization throughout the
country.
He said in some cases with regions that were difficult to reach,
Unicef had provided surplus stock to neighboring provinces, and then relied on
the initiative of the local people to deliver the medicines to the people in
more remote areas.
Unicef provides programs on maternal and child
health, essential drug supplies, immunization, basic education, protection of
children especially in difficult circumstances, water supply and sanitation,
nutrition and women's development.
Oliver said: "Children are the basis
of the country, Cambodia won't develop if children are not well enough. Unicef
not only focuses on children but also their mothers because it is important for
mothers to deliver care to their children.
"Unicef is helping women to
earn extra income so they can stand on their own feet, and it also assists
women's development programs.
"Since the signing of the Paris Peace
Accords our programs are becoming bigger and bigger each year."
Contact PhnomPenh Post for full article
Post Media Co LtdThe Elements Condominium, Level 7
Hun Sen Boulevard
Phum Tuol Roka III
Sangkat Chak Angre Krom, Khan Meanchey
12353 Phnom Penh
Cambodia
Telegram: 092 555 741
Email: [email protected]