New York (FN), Sep. 23 – On 21 September 2023 in New York, senior minister of the Royal Government Ouch Borith addressed the High-Level Meeting of the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly on “Universal Health Coverage: Expanding our ambition for health and well-being in a post-COVID19 world”.

In his address, Ouch Borith affirmed Cambodia’s steadfast commitment to universal health coverage as a pivotal pillar of sustainable development. He highlighted significant strides in Cambodia’s healthcare system, including expanded infrastructure, a bolstered healthcare workforce, financial protection mechanisms for all, and strengthened primary healthcare, ensuring 80 percent of the population enjoys healthcare access within a 5-kilometer radius. As of 2023, Cambodia has 1,136 health centers and 122 hospitals.

The senior minister emphasized Cambodia’s active engagement in disease prevention and control, notably eliminating malaria in 2020, and making commendable progress in reducing HIV prevalence. Cambodia is intensifying its disease surveillance systems to effectively detect and respond to climate-sensitive diseases.

Ouch Borith reaffirmed Cambodia’s readiness to collaborate with the UN member states, UN agencies, and stakeholders to advance global health goals in a post-COVID world. He underscored that health serves not only as an objective but also a cornerstone upon which we can construct a fairer and more prosperous world.
=FRESH NEWS