Kandal Province: In a signing ceremony held at Center for Child and Adolescent Mental Health (CCAMH) at Chey Chumneas Referral Hospital (CRH), Takhmau, Kandal Province, under Ministry of Health, Royal Government of Cambodia, H.E. Dr. Devyani Khobragade, Ambassador of India to the Kingdom of Cambodia, signed an MoU with Mr. Kim Rattana, Executive Director, Caritas, Royal Government of Cambodia on 18 March 2022, for a project in reaching out to “Orphan, vulnerable children (OVC), children with psychological disabilities and left-behind children (LBC) through mobile clinic” at primary and secondary level through workshops among teachers and health care providers in Kampong Cham and Tbeng Kumum Provinces.
This initiative, which is a part of the Government of India’s Quick Impact Project (QIP) Scheme under the framework of Mekong Ganga Cooperation is to be implemented by the CCAMH community team with the support of Caritas Cambodia (CC), an international NGO.
The event was attended by Mr. Kim Rattana, Executive Director, Caritas, H. E. Dr. Devyani Khobragade, Ambassador of India to the Kingdom of Cambodia, and other dignitaries from the Ministry of Health and representatives from the Kandal Provincial Health Department and the Chey Chumneas Referral Hospital (CRH) Takhmau. In his welcome address, Dr. Bhoomikumar highlighted the “Contextual relevance of reaching the unreached” of this project, as it aims to reach children with neurodevelopmental and other psychosocial disabilities who are unable to access health care services due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Under the QIP, the Embassy of India undertook other projects in partnership with Caritas Cambodia viz. “Capacity building of caregivers and professionals to empower children and adolescents with multiple disabilities and their families”, which is under the final stage of completion, benefitting about 1300 children and their families.
The government of India cooperates with the Royal Government of Cambodia on many grant assistance programmes that contribute significantly to the socio-economic development of the people of Cambodia. Under QIP Scheme, the Government of India implements 10 projects every year in Cambodia by providing funding of up to USD 50,000 each per project. Since 2015-16, the Government of India has approved 46 projects in the fields of IT, agriculture, health, sanitation, women’s empowerment, child welfare, rural development, social infrastructure (Including capacity building), environment, etc. Out of 46 projects, 21 projects have already been completed and the remaining 25 projects are at various stages of execution. These projects have received an overwhelming response and created a distinct and visible impact not only among the beneficiaries but also in the larger community.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Kim Rattana thanked the Government and the Embassy of India for providing grants for this project that would be beneficial for orphan, vulnerable children, children with psychological disabilities, and left-behind children. Mr. Kim particularly thanked the Ambassador for her continuous support and cooperation that has been extended to CCAMH over the years.
While expressing her appreciation for the signing of the MoU, H.E. Dr. Devyani Khobragade, Ambassador of India recalled the age-old bonds of friendship, particularly with the Chey Chumneas Referral Hospital (CRH), Takhmau, Kandal Province. She appreciated the role of Dr. Bhoomikumar in developing child mental health services in Cambodia with the support of the Government of India. She stressed the positive impact of QIP projects towards the enhancement of the overall bilateral relationship and goodwill between the people of India and Cambodia, this year the focus of QIPs will be on health, tourism development, education-digital education with a particular focus on women literacy. She also added that it is her chief endeavor to support projects, which will have a direct impact on the lives of people who are marginalized and below the poverty line, women and children in particular. She underscored the contribution of the Government of India to the Ministry of Health, Royal Government of Cambodia during the pandemic, and the potential partnership in “Transfer of technology in vaccine production” to Cambodia shortly.
Source: India in Cambodia (Embassy of India, Phnom Penh)
