Speech

Excellency HUN NENG, Provincial Governor of Kampong Cham
Excellencies Distinguished Guests,
Prof. Koum Kanal, Director of the National Maternal and Child Health Center
Dr. Ngoun Sam An, Director of the Provincial Health Department, Kampong Cham
Mr. Zaman Talukder, HKI/Cambodia Country Director
Ladies and Gentlemen

Over the next 30 days the Ministry of Health and its partners aim to provide vitamin A to over 1 million Cambodian children under the age of 5 thereby preventing blindness and saving lives as their immune systems are strengthened to fight common childhood killers, including diarrhea and measles.  As one of the Ministry of Health’s partners in combating vitamin A deficiency, I am pleased to be here on behalf of USAID to help launch the March vitamin A distribution campaign in Kampong Cham.

The United States Government and the United States Agency for International Development place great importance on combating malnutrition, such as Vitamin A deficiency.  Improved nutritional status of children and women of reproductive age will lead to the reduction of child morbidity and mortality.

For over 30 years USAID has been supporting research that has confirmed the benefits of vitamin A supplementation for women and children. This research shows that vitamin A reduces infant and child mortality by as much a 23% – resulting in one life saved out of a possible 4 deaths simply through the provision of these small red and blue capsules.

Over the past 15 years USAID has been working in partnership with the Ministry of Health through assistance from Helen Keller International (HKI).  USAID support to the National Nutrition Program and partnership with UNICEF was instrumental in the development and implementation of Cambodia’s national strategy to distribute vitamin A capsules to all children under 5.

Addressing malnutrition, including vitamin A deficiency, is an important step towards building a healthy nation.  The Ministry of Health at all levels – central, provincial, OD and health center – is partnering with NGOs and donors to do its part, but each of us as parents – mothers and fathers – and community members must also play a role.  We each need to support care takers – mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, grandmothers and grandfathers – to ensure young children receive the nutrition they need by providing them with more nutritious foods, including animal products, vegetables and fruit rich in vitamin A.  The survival of Cambodia’s children depends on it.

Today, we are here to kick-off the first day of the vitamin A distribution month. Five ODs in Kampong Cham Province have been enrolled by HKI and the National Nutrition Program and the remaining five will be enrolled in the near future. USAID will continue to provide support to the National Nutrition Program through NGO partners with the goal of achieving national coverage and improving health, well-being and survival of Cambodia's children.

In closing, I would like to encourage each of you to take action – if you have a younger brother or sister, son or daughter below age 5 or a friend or neighbor with a child below age 5 – ensure that each of them receives a small red or blue vitamin A capsule this month – your actions may save their lives.

Thank you.