The U.S. Agency for International Development is involved in a number of health care initiatives in Cambodia, including family planning and child health services, and the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, dengue and malaria. (AP/WWP)Acting Mission Director Roger Carlson outlines U.S. aid to Cambodia
By Cassie Duong
Washington File Staff Writer
USINFO.STATE.GOV
Washington -- The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) focuses on three central goals in Cambodia: good health, good education and good governance, according to a July 4 speech by acting Mission Director for Cambodia Roger Carlson.
"These are all important components of USAID’s contribution to the economic and social advancement of all Cambodians," Carlson said, adding that USAID has provided more than $550 million in support of economic and social development in Cambodia since 1992.
Cambodia faces one of the most serious HIV/AIDS epidemics in Asia, according to USAID.
"While the prevalence of the disease among adults declined from 3.3 percent in 1997 to 2.6 percent in 2003, it is still a major threat to the country's physical and economic health," the agency said in a report on its programs in the country.
In a speech given July 4, U.S. Ambassador to Cambodia Joseph Mussomeli noted that U.S. assistance "accounts for roughly half of all international assistance to Cambodia to fight HIV/AIDS."
A partnership among USAID, Cambodia's Ministry of Health, local and international organizations and other donors has reduced the occurrence of HIV/AIDS in Cambodia significantly, according to Carlson.
Efforts to prevent the spread of the disease include the promotion of abstinence, being faithful to one partner and condom use among populations with a high risk of contracting HIV/AIDS, he said.
USAID also supports the expansion of the "Continuum of Care" program, which provides services to prevent HIV transmission and provides care and treatment for those living with HIV/AIDS.
For more information about U.S. policies, see HIV/AIDS.
ADDRESSING OTHER HEALTH ISSUES
In addition to HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment efforts, Carlson said, USAID is involved in ensuring all parts of Cambodia's population have access to family planning and child health services and supporting efforts for the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of malaria, dengue and tuberculosis.
The agency also continues to implement programs designed to prevent the further spread of avian influenza and to work with Cambodian government agencies to prepare a coordinated response in the event of an outbreak. (See Bird Flu.)
Carlson cited public service announcements involving an animated character known as "Super Chicken" that encourages farmers to take simple steps to keep their poultry and families from becoming infected with avian influenza. These steps include washing hands after handling poultry, separating new chickens from old ones for 14 days and cleaning yards on a regular basis.
According to Mussomeli, U.S. assistance to Cambodia in 2006 alone will top $62 million, with more than half devoted to health issues.
IMPROVING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
Another goal of USAID is access to quality education for all Cambodian children, Carlson said.
In support of this goal, one USAID program contributes to the efforts of Cambodia's Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports to introduce a "new, relevant curriculum" and to train teachers to deliver it using "child-friendly methodology," he said.
Another program supports schools and communities that "encourage enrollment of Cambodia’s special-needs children, notably minorities, the disabled and the very poor," Carlson said.
According to USAID, only about 24 percent of Cambodia children continue to secondary school, and a significant gap remains between the percentages of women and men who are literate.
For more information on U.S. policies, see Education.
SUPPORTING GOOD GOVERNANCE
In its congressional budget justification for fiscal year 2006, USAID said, "Lack of good governance, unsatisfied social needs, and growing environmental threats are but a few hurdles the Royal Government of Cambodia will face in the coming years."
The report notes that Cambodia's government "lacks a separation of powers, with the executive branch dominating the legislature and the judiciary" and said the impact of corruption within Cambodia "permeates all aspects of daily life for citizens."
In order to encourage government reform, Carlson said, USAID funds programs that focus on issues such as democratic local governance and decentralization, protection of human rights and the rule of law, legal aid, judicial reform, labor unions and worker’s rights and forest and wildlife protection. The agency also supports efforts to fight trafficking in persons and corruption.
According to Mussomeli, "[u]ltimately it will be up to the Cambodian people and its leaders to ensure the freedom and happiness of the people, but the United States -- as a good friend of Cambodia and the Cambodian people -- is honored to help in small ways."
The texts of prepared remarks by Roger Carlson and Joseph Mussomeli are available on the U.S. Embassy in Cambodia’s Web site.
More information on USAID programs in Cambodia and the text of the agency’s Congressional Budget Justification report for FY 2006 are available on the agency’s Web site.
For more information about U.S. policies, see Global Development and Foreign Aid.
(The Washington File is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
"These are all important components of USAID’s contribution to the economic and social advancement of all Cambodians," Carlson said, adding that USAID has provided more than $550 million in support of economic and social development in Cambodia since 1992.
Cambodia faces one of the most serious HIV/AIDS epidemics in Asia, according to USAID.
"While the prevalence of the disease among adults declined from 3.3 percent in 1997 to 2.6 percent in 2003, it is still a major threat to the country's physical and economic health," the agency said in a report on its programs in the country.
In a speech given July 4, U.S. Ambassador to Cambodia Joseph Mussomeli noted that U.S. assistance "accounts for roughly half of all international assistance to Cambodia to fight HIV/AIDS."
A partnership among USAID, Cambodia's Ministry of Health, local and international organizations and other donors has reduced the occurrence of HIV/AIDS in Cambodia significantly, according to Carlson.
Efforts to prevent the spread of the disease include the promotion of abstinence, being faithful to one partner and condom use among populations with a high risk of contracting HIV/AIDS, he said.
USAID also supports the expansion of the "Continuum of Care" program, which provides services to prevent HIV transmission and provides care and treatment for those living with HIV/AIDS.
For more information about U.S. policies, see HIV/AIDS.
ADDRESSING OTHER HEALTH ISSUES
In addition to HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment efforts, Carlson said, USAID is involved in ensuring all parts of Cambodia's population have access to family planning and child health services and supporting efforts for the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of malaria, dengue and tuberculosis.
The agency also continues to implement programs designed to prevent the further spread of avian influenza and to work with Cambodian government agencies to prepare a coordinated response in the event of an outbreak. (See Bird Flu.)
Carlson cited public service announcements involving an animated character known as "Super Chicken" that encourages farmers to take simple steps to keep their poultry and families from becoming infected with avian influenza. These steps include washing hands after handling poultry, separating new chickens from old ones for 14 days and cleaning yards on a regular basis.
According to Mussomeli, U.S. assistance to Cambodia in 2006 alone will top $62 million, with more than half devoted to health issues.
IMPROVING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
Another goal of USAID is access to quality education for all Cambodian children, Carlson said.
In support of this goal, one USAID program contributes to the efforts of Cambodia's Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports to introduce a "new, relevant curriculum" and to train teachers to deliver it using "child-friendly methodology," he said.
Another program supports schools and communities that "encourage enrollment of Cambodia’s special-needs children, notably minorities, the disabled and the very poor," Carlson said.
According to USAID, only about 24 percent of Cambodia children continue to secondary school, and a significant gap remains between the percentages of women and men who are literate.
For more information on U.S. policies, see Education.
SUPPORTING GOOD GOVERNANCE
In its congressional budget justification for fiscal year 2006, USAID said, "Lack of good governance, unsatisfied social needs, and growing environmental threats are but a few hurdles the Royal Government of Cambodia will face in the coming years."
The report notes that Cambodia's government "lacks a separation of powers, with the executive branch dominating the legislature and the judiciary" and said the impact of corruption within Cambodia "permeates all aspects of daily life for citizens."
In order to encourage government reform, Carlson said, USAID funds programs that focus on issues such as democratic local governance and decentralization, protection of human rights and the rule of law, legal aid, judicial reform, labor unions and worker’s rights and forest and wildlife protection. The agency also supports efforts to fight trafficking in persons and corruption.
According to Mussomeli, "[u]ltimately it will be up to the Cambodian people and its leaders to ensure the freedom and happiness of the people, but the United States -- as a good friend of Cambodia and the Cambodian people -- is honored to help in small ways."
The texts of prepared remarks by Roger Carlson and Joseph Mussomeli are available on the U.S. Embassy in Cambodia’s Web site.
More information on USAID programs in Cambodia and the text of the agency’s Congressional Budget Justification report for FY 2006 are available on the agency’s Web site.
For more information about U.S. policies, see Global Development and Foreign Aid.
(The Washington File is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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