PHNOM PENH: U.S. Congressman Brad Wenstrup (R-OH), Chairman of the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic, and two staff advisors visited Cambodia on August 21–22 to meet with senior Cambodian health officials and visit key U.S. government-supported public health projects. The visit focused on a successful joint U.S.-Cambodia collaboration to build capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to public health threats.
During his visit, Representative Wenstrup engaged with senior Cambodian health officials, including Minister of Health Professor Chheang Ra, officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries, and other development partners. Discussions highlighted Cambodia’s successful response to COVID-19 as well as recent human cases of H5N1 avian influenza, and how lessons learned are being applied to prepare against future health threats and outbreaks.
The delegation visited key U.S. government-supported project sites, highlighting the return on U.S. investments in Cambodia’s health security efforts. These efforts are supported by the U.S. Agency for International Development, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the U.S. National Institutes of Health.
“We are honored that Representative Wenstrup visited Cambodia, underscoring the long-standing commitment of the U.S. government to improving public health in Cambodia,” U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Bridgette Walker said. “Diseases know no borders, making the collaboration between our countries to improve global health security ever more crucial.”
The U.S. government invests approximately $42 million annually to support Cambodia’s health sector through the coordinated work of multiple agencies. This partnership plays a critical role in enhancing Cambodia’s capacity to address public health threats, contributing to regional and national health security, as well as protecting U.S. national security.
Photo by: U.S. Embassy Phnom Penh
