Today, Administrator Samantha Power, in Siem Reap, announced new U.S. initiatives to support the health and wellbeing of the Cambodian people.
Administrator Power announced a new five-year program to bolster Cambodia's fight against tuberculosis (TB), a disease which claims thousands of lives in Cambodia every year. USAID's Community Mobilization Initiatives to End Tuberculosis 2 (COMMIT 2) program will be implemented by KHANA, the Khmer HIV/AIDS NGO Alliance. USAID has committed $4 million for the first year of the program. Today's announcement is one of USAID's largest direct local awards ever to a Cambodian organization. Through this program, USAID will partner with Cambodia to accelerate active case finding by working in and with local communities to improve TB screening and diagnosis, improve digital reporting of TB cases, and increase access to TB preventive therapy.
The Administrator also announced a commitment of over $1 million to advance efforts to end childhood lead poisoning in Cambodia, in partnership with UNICEF and the Royal Government of Cambodia. This commitment will support a first-of-its kind national survey to evaluate the levels of heavy metals like lead and arsenic in children, pregnant women, the environment, and products. Survey results will support the Royal Government of Cambodia in making evidence-based decisions to improve policy, standards, and regulations around heavy metals so that more Cambodians can live healthier, more productive lives. In September 2024, the United States and Cambodia were among the more than 20 countries making commitments to fighting global lead exposure as founding members of the new Partnership for a Lead-Free Future.
Finally, Administrator Power announced $12 million in new funding to support a range of demining activities, including landmine clearance and risk education for local communities. To date, U.S. partners have cleared more than 1.5 million landmines and unexploded ordnances (UXOs) from approximately 230,000 acres of land in Cambodia, and continuing this work will help save lives and create a safer, healthier Cambodia.
Improving health security in Cambodia is an integral part of the U.S. Indo-Pacific strategy. Reducing the prevalence of infectious diseases, like TB, and supporting equitable access to healthcare advance our shared interest of enhancing health and safety for our communities. These investments underscore USAID's commitment to helping Cambodia improve health outcomes, including by ending TB as a health threat by 2030, prevent lead exposure in mothers and children, and strengthen capacity to confront future public health threats.
