Health minister Chheang Ra (left) meets with WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in Geneva, Switzerland on May 26. Health ministry
Cambodia has reaffirmed its alignment with the mission of the WHO and its role as a strategic partner, having achieved significant success in its fight against Covid-19.
The commitment was made during a high-level bilateral May 26 meeting between Cambodian Minister of Health Chheang Ra and WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. The meeting was held in Geneva, Switzerland, on the sidelines of the 78th World Health Assembly, attended by representatives from 194 member states.
During the meeting, the minister acknowledged the WHO’s ongoing support for Cambodia’s health sector and reiterated the country’s commitment to aligning with the WHO’s global health mission, according to a health ministry statement.
He also recalled a powerful historical memory engraved in the hearts of both Cambodia and the world — the decision by former Prime Minister Hun Sen to personally welcome 2,257 passengers from the MS Westerdam cruise ship, at a time when the deadly Covid-19 pandemic was claiming lives globally. While other countries turned the ship away, Cambodia allowed it to dock and provided humanitarian aid — on Valentine’s Day.
That humanitarian decision, which came amid widespread fear and uncertainty, reflected Cambodia’s values of courage, timely response, clear prioritisation, public health problem-solving and respect for the right to life and human dignity of stranded passengers, said the ministry.
The statement also reported that the WHO director-general praised the Kingdom’s health ministry and government for their strategic partnership with WHO, as well as their major success in handling the Covid-19 crisis.
“We must all remember — and remind the world — of the MS Westerdam experience: Cambodia, a small country with a big heart,” said Tedros.
The minister briefed him on key developments in Cambodia’s health sector.
These included strengthening Primary Health Care (PHC) through public health education campaigns, expanding vaccination programmes and improving treatment and access to medicines for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) within communities.
Additionally, the Kingdom has launched several major health initiatives. They include the National Action Plan for Cancer Prevention and Control 2025–2033, a proactive surveillance and rapid response approach to all infectious diseases, as well as the formulation of the Health Strategic Plan Phase 4 (HSP4) 2025–2033.
HSP4 is a long-term, broad framework which aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the vision for Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
It outlines five strategic directions that include strengthening primary health care and essential services, developing human resources for health, enhancing health financing and governance, expanding digital health and information systems, and building resilience and emergency preparedness within the health system.
The WHO director-general expressed his full support for the ministry’s priorities.
