PFD in Cambodia

PFD has been operational in Cambodia for over 17 years. Within the context of the 1991 Paris Peace Accords and the subsequent return of 365,000  Cambodian refugees, PFD began work in late 1992 focusing initially on clean-water supply in Kratie province.

PFD has built on this early relief work to implment a variety of innovative community level programs in northern and western provinces responsive to local priorities in public health and household economic security.

Over the course of the last decade, PFD’s strategy to improve the quality of life for underserved and vulnerable groups in Cambodia has taken a more long-term focus.

Watch "Serving the Underserved: PFD in Cambodia" Documentary film.
See a Google Earth map of PFD Cambodia offices.

In August 2011 PFD was named a nominee in the Saving Lives at Birth: A Grant Challenge for Development competition.  Click here to learn more about our winning program.

Cambodia Country Profile 

Despite several years of relative political stability and strong economic growth, average annual income in Cambodia is only $540, with 35% of the population falling below the poverty line.

Malnutrition is widespread and helps to contribute to the country’s high infant and under-five mortality rates (66 and 91 per 1,000 live births, respectively). The maternal mortality rate is the highest in the region at 440 per 100,000 live births.

In recent years PFD has moved to address issues of entrenched poverty, malnutrition, and the prevalence of fatal but preventable diseases through an integrated approach in the sectors of public health, water and sanitation, agriculture/food security and income generation.

The cornerstone of all PFD programs is the strengthening of community institutions and the training of individuals such as village volunteers, community leaders, youth and adult peer educators who can take the lead in implementing interventions.

Priority Needs

PFD is working to address the needs of the most vulnerable and underserved populations in Cambodia, with current priorities focusing on:

 Malaria Prevention and Treatment

PFD’s malaria prevention and control program, supported by the Global Fund since 2004, works closely with the Ministry of Health’s National Center for Malaria and Dengue (CNM) to implement malaria prevention and control activities through village volunteers who work as malaria educators in their communities.

A network of 1,000 school teachers train students to disseminate malaria prevention messages to their communities using the Child-to-Child methodology.

In November 2007, PFD commenced work on the USAID-funded Malaria Prevention and Control in Cambodia (MCC) Project in collaboration with University Research Corporation and the CNM in the northwest provinces of Battambang, Pailin, Banteay Meanchey and Oddar Meanchey, which are focal points in the global issue of multi-drug resistant malaria.

Implementation Strategies

 PFD's malaria prevention and control programs focus on:

• Awareness : through peer education; school and community based malaria prevention and control messages
• Prevention: through the distribution of impregnated bed nets, education and bed net reimpregnation
• Early Diagnosis and Treatment
• Capacity building: capacity development of public health districts

Program Innovations

Malaria Week: For the past several years PFD has orchestrated Malaria Week, a collaborative event involving community members, children and government officials working towards malaria prevention and education. This year's events in Kratie province included children's drama performances, net distribution, rapid response malaria testing, and malaria education videos. IMPACT: with a turn-out of 1,400 villagers, 59% of the villages in the province attended and over 1,600 bed nets were distributed

Small Funds to Communes: PFD has provided funds to eleven Commune Councils in Kratie and Koh Kong provinces so that local communities could design and implement malaria prevention activities specific to their own context.
IMPACT: Provision of $2,000/year to communes to encourage and support malaria prevention and control activities at commune level

Tuk-Tuk for Health:  PFD has provided six Tuk-Tuks (motrocycle led ambulance carts) which are used for the transport of Malaria patients.

Results

• A 70% reduction in malaria cases in Koh Kong Province since 2004.
• The distribution of over 53,000 family bed nets in Kratie and Koh Kong since 2006, covering nearly 122,000 people.
  A five-fold increase in impregnated hammock net sales to forest migrants in target areas.
• The launch of an affiliated indigenous NGO, Partners for Development Cambodia, which implements school-based malaria prevention interventions in three provinces.

Past Cambodia Programs

community development program (1992-2002)

Under the Northeast Cambodia Community Development Program (1992-2002), PFD assisted in the formation of Village Development Committees, installed community and household water points and latrines, rehabilitated rural schools, and established community rice banks and a family gardening program.

 reproductive health program (1999-2003)

The Northeast Cambodia Reproductive Health Program, focused on improving awareness of the benefits of birth spacing, and increasing contraceptive prevalence through the training of community volunteers as contraceptive promoters.

CHILD SURVIVAL PROGRAM (2000-2004) 

The Northeast Cambodia Child Survival Program focused on improving control of diarrheal disease, infant feeding practices, and vaccination coverage among children under five years of age in Kratie Province.

BRIDGES TO HEALTH (2002-2006)

The Spien Sokhapheap (Bridges for Health) program, saw the expansion of PFD’s health focus from child survival to integrated community health in Kratie and Koh Kong provinces, where activities focused on maternal and child health and nutrition, reproductive health and HIV/AIDS, and infectious disease control.

AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (2004-2006)

 In Stung Treng and Kratie provinces, the Agricultural Development Program  involved four key components: improving agricultural productivity, enhancing household nutrition, supporting the Provincial Agricultural Extension Service, and improving access to markets.