(Phnom Penh): The Embassy of India in Phnom Penh and Centre for Child and Adolescent Mental Mental Health (CCAMH) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 1 December 2025 for the implementation of a Quick Impact Project (QIP) on Empowering young people struggling with mental health and learning disabilities in school and prison settings by building the capacity of mental health professionals in Cambodia, through culturally appropriate interventions. The project will support young people with mental health challenges and learning disabilities, including those in school and prison. CCAMH is a centre set up through a joint collaboration between the Ministry of Health of the Kingdom of Cambodia and Caritas.

The MoU was signed by J. Bhoomikumar, Director and Consultant Child Psychiatrist, CCAMH and Vanlalvawna Bawitlung, Ambassador of India to Cambodia. The signing ceremony was graced by Sry Thamarong, Senior Minister, Office of the Council of Ministers and Or Vandine, Secretary of State, Ministry of Health of Kingdom of Cambodia.

In his address, Ambassador Vanlalvawna Bawitlung said that the QIP aims to strengthen the skills of mental health professionals across sectors, introducing culturally appropriate approaches such as Vipassana meditation, and improving community resilience and the project aligns with Cambodia’s priorities in expanding inclusive and responsive mental health services for vulnerable youth.

Ambassador also recalled the long-standing partnership between India and CCAMH. He said since the 1980s, India has supported CCAMH through the provision of medical equipment, technical expertise, and the deputation of Indian doctors, contributing significantly to capacity building in Cambodia’s mental health sector. A key milestone in this collaboration was the expansion of the centre under the India–Brazil–South Africa (IBSA) Fund, which strengthened CCAMH’s position as a leading institution for child and adolescent mental health in Cambodia.

Under the Quick Impact Project (QIP) scheme of the Mekong–Ganga Cooperation, India has already implemented two successful projects with CCAMH. India remains committed to supporting Cambodia’s broader development priorities in health, education, community development, and capacity building. Through the QIP scheme, India supports ten projects annually in Cambodia. To date, 64 projects have been supported, of which 47 are completed and 17 are under implementation, contributing to tangible improvements across sectors such as education, health, sanitation, women’s empowerment, and agriculture.

The signing of this MoU marks another step in the strong and growing partnership between India and Cambodia, and an important step in advancing collaborative efforts to provide accessible, high-quality mental health services for Cambodia’s young people.
=FRESH NEWS