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U.S. Embassy DCM Piper Campbell (left) and Cambodia’s Health Secretary of State H.E. Prof. Eng Huot (right) cut the ribbon on the newly renovated national public health laboratory funded by U.S. government.
New Molecular Biology Lab Supported by US
National Institute of Public Health
August 29, 2008
Chargé d’affaires Piper Campbell participated in the inauguration of a new molecular biology lab whose renovation was funded by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in Cambodia on Friday August 29th at the National Institute of Public Health. The new facility will serve as a center for conducting PCR testing for avian influenza, HIV, and other diseases, and is a starting point in our joint efforts in developing the capacity to conduct even more sophisticated diagnostic testing for a host of other infections in the future.
CDC provided $650,000 for the renovation of this important piece of the diagnostic puzzle in Cambodia, which brings its total support for the development of laboratory capacity in the country to $3 million dollars. CDC has also provided major financial support in order to train 6 staff members at the facility on molecular techniques, and close to 20 other staff on serology, bacteriology, immunology including CD4 testing, hematology, and laboratory management. Laboratorians working at the provincial level have also received training in these areas.
This lab and training provided are yet another concrete example of the U.S. Government’s commitment to detect and combat disease in the region, and is only a part of the $30 million in aid that has been provided this year to support the health care sector of Cambodia.
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