Prime Minister Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet has sent a powerful message ahead of the 16th National Rural Sanitation Day (Nov. 13), reaffirming that improving rural sanitation is not just a policy—it is a core priority of the Royal Government.
The Premier highlighted this commitment as a clear pillar of the first phase of the Pentagonal Strategy (2023–2028), which aims to significantly improve rural living standards. The specific, ambitious target is to achieve 100 percent coverage for rural water supply and sanitation services by 2030.
A Milestone for National Health
Samdech Thipadei proudly announced a historic milestone that showcases the nation’s progress:
“To date, all 25 capital and provincial administrations across the country—covering 14,576 villages, 1,652 communes, 163 districts, 33 cities and 14 khans—have achieved Open Defecation Free (ODF) status, marking another historic milestone for Cambodia.”
This achievement reflects a massive leap in public health and infrastructure. The Prime Minister noted that rural sanitation coverage has jumped from 90 percent in 2024 to a current 95 percent in 2025, keeping the 2030 goal within reach.
Prime Minister Hun Manet emphasized that this success is a testament to the “collective efforts” of the government, institutions, and citizens alike, demonstrating a significant shift in both public awareness and sanitation practices. He thanked and commended the Ministry of Rural Development, development partners, and all citizens for their active participation, urging them to maintain this momentum to ensure the complete success of the government’s public health goals.