Speeches
Remarks by Chargé d’Affaires Piper A. W. Campbell, Inauguration of CDC offices at the Cambodia National Institute in Public Health
Phnom Penh
August 24, 2007
His Excellency Dr. Mam Bun Heng, Secretary of State for Health;
His Excellency Dr. Mean Chhi Vun, Director of NCHADS;
Dr. Ung Sam An, Director of Cambodia NIPH;
My colleagues visiting from the United States;
Ladies and gentlemen
It gives me great pleasure to make a few remarks representing Ambassador Mussomeli, who is currently away from Cambodia, on behalf of the U.S. government and the Embassy. Although we are rather disappointed that we can’t claim our Wat Phnom building is the newest U.S. office in town any longer, we are very excited to have part of the Embassy co-located with Cambodian counterparts in these lovely facilities at the National Institute for Public Health. And, we expect that this proximity will further aid the already strong collaboration between our medical professionals and Cambodia’s health structures. This is a good thing.
The United States works closely with the National Institute for Public Health and the Ministry of Health to keep Cambodians healthy. In fact roughly one-half of our development assistance budget for 2007 -- more than $30 million -- is for a broad range of health issues including HIV/AIDS, avian influenza, tuberculosis, and maternal and child healthcare. Why do we place such importance health? Because it doesn't matter how many schools are built, how many roads are paved, or how many elections are held -- if Cambodians are too sick to study or drive or vote, then the country can never develop to its fullest potential.
The President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, commonly referred to as PEPFAR, is the U.S. government’s response to the AIDS pandemic. PEPFAR funding to Cambodia, which is nearly $18 million this year, makes the U.S. the largest single donor to the national AIDS program. In addition, PEPFAR also supports the Global Fund, which is another source of substantial financial support to Cambodia. So, U.S. money both directly and multilaterally bolsters Cambodia’s response to AIDS.
As part of PEPFAR, USAID and CDC work together with the Ministry of Health to prevent new HIV infections and to provide care and treatment to people living with HIV and AIDS. USAID works with the Ministry of Health through its partners to provide prevention, care and treatment throughout Cambodia.
But today, we’re focused more on CDC. CDC works with the Ministry by providing technical assistance to strengthen public health capacity to respond to HIV/AIDS, Avian Influenza and other public health priorities. The U.S. government through CDC has just made a new, five-year cooperative agreement to combat HIV/AIDS available to the National Institute of Public Health, with potential funding of approximately $1 million over the course of the agreement. Additionally, CDC has already provided NIPH with more than $700,000 in funding through a separate cooperative agreement for avian influenza.
By locating its office at NIPH, CDC is demonstrating an ongoing financial and technical commitment to the national reference laboratory to bring in new and better testing for HIV as well as other diseases such as avian influenza, and to improve the quality of laboratory testing throughout Cambodia.
At the Embassy, we have absolute confidence that this closer collaboration will improve the Cambodian government’s ability to respond to public health priorities and that acting together we can help lower the risk Cambodians face from HIV/AIDS, avian influenza, and other diseases.
Thank You.
