On Monday, Cambodia’s Minister of Health, H.E. Prof. Chheang Ra, praised the excellent results of the country’s partnership with the United States. He noted that this cooperation has led to major improvements in Cambodia’s health sector and the overall well-being of the public.
The Minister shared his positive comments during a meeting at the Ministry of Health with Ms. Bridgette L. Walker, the top U.S. diplomat in Cambodia (Chargé d’Affaires), and her team.
Gratitude and Key Achievements
Minister Chheang Ra warmly welcomed and thanked the U.S. Government for its consistent and long-lasting support. He stressed that direct U.S. help has been essential for continuing progress in public health, making healthcare systems stronger, and helping the country handle health challenges.
In return, the U.S. diplomat, Ms. Walker, thanked the Minister for supporting the current health programs funded by the U.S. She also gave an update on the launch of the new U.S. plan, called the America First Global Health Strategy.
A New Strategy for the Future
Ms. Walker explained that this new strategy will be put into action through an upcoming official agreement (Memorandum of Understanding or MOU). This will ensure that U.S. health aid is transparent and continues for the long term.
The new U.S. plan has three main goals:
- Improving global health security.
- Stopping the spread of infectious diseases.
- Supporting health systems that can withstand challenges.
She also asked the Minister for his input and ideas on a draft of the new health agreement between the two countries.
Commitment to Future Goals
Minister Chheang Ra fully supported the new U.S. health plan, appreciating America’s commitment to saving lives and strengthening health systems both in Cambodia and worldwide. He suggested that their teams hold more technical talks to make sure future projects perfectly match Cambodia’s most important health needs.
He confirmed that the collaboration between the U.S. and Cambodia has already brought “significant and real benefits” to the country’s health development, improving the lives of Cambodians. He specifically highlighted that this years-long partnership helped Cambodia achieve the Millennium Development Goals and continues to sustain health progress today.
The meeting concluded with Minister Chheang Ra promising Cambodia’s continued close work with the U.S. to support the government’s overall national plan (the Pentagonal Strategy) under Prime Minister Hun Manet.