Out of a total of 20 provinces and 4 municipalities in Cambodia, the program is implemened in 6 provinces and 3 municipalities namely, the provinces of Svay Rieng, Takeo, Kampong Speu, Kampong Cham, Battambang, Prey Veng and the municipalities of Phnom Penh, Sihanoukville, and Pailin. The program covers approximately 3,300,000 people in 3,480 villages, 223 health centers (HCs) in 19 operational districts (ODs), out of a total of 966 HCs and 76 ODs in Cambodia. RHAC’s Outreach Program, supported by USAID began in 1995. At that time, the goal of the program was to assist the public health sector to conduct community based distribution of family planning methods through volunteers known as Health Development Teams (HDTs). In 2001, the MOH finalized it’s policy and guidelines on health outreach activities and RHAC began supporting PHDs, ODs and HCs to conduct outreach activities. With the commencement of the Ministry of Health’s formal volunteer system known as the Village Health Support Groups (VHSGs), RHAC has integrated it’s trained volunteers (HDTs) into this system.
Maternal and Child Health and Nutrition; The program works towards improving maternal and newborn care by increasing access to ANC, safe delivery, PNC for women, and providing family planning services to rural couples through trained volunteers living in the community. The program also supports the implementation of key child health interventions at HCs, such as immunization, bi-annual distribution of vitamin A capsules, and improved treatment of major illnesses among young children, especially acute respiratory infections (ARI) and diarrhea.
Infectious Disease Control and Prevention; The program supports the National TB program of the MOH by implementing community DOTS ( Direct Observed Treatment Short Course) in selected ODs. It provides education about TB and promotes the referral of suspected TB cases through DOTS watchers and private health providers in the community.
To reduce HIV transmission and alleviate the impact of AIDS; The program provides education on HIV/AIDS to rural couples, promotes condom use as a dual method of contraception and protection, and provides referral for HIV testing. It implements home-based care programs for people living with HIV/AIDS and is in partnership with the AngkorHospital for Children to provide pediatric AIDS treatment for children infected or affected by HIV/AIDS.
Contribute to health system strengthening, by implementing a Health Equity Fund (HEF)
Since 2004, RHAC has been participating in the implementation of a contracting health services project in Preah Sdach OD of Prey Veng province, which in addition to building capacity at Government Health facilities, manages a Health Equity Fund (HEF), set up for the purpose of improving access to health care by the poor. Based on this experience and the need to provide the poor with equitable access to quality health services, RHAC has begun to implement the HEF project in six other ODs in selected areas. These are, one OD in Sihanoukville, three ODs in Kampong Chhnang province, (Kampong Chhnang, Boribo and Kampong Tralach ODs); and one OD in Kampong Cham province, (Tbong Khmum- Krochmar OD). Approximately half a million poor people benefit by this project.
Strengthening the Health Information System (HIS)
In contributing towards the improvement of the MOH’s Health information System (HIS), RHAC works in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, relevant NGOs and Data Information Officers based in 7 ODs, to ensure reliability and accuracy of data at provincial health department (PHD), OD and HC level. Currently, RHAC supports HIS strengthening activities in Battambang, Takeo, Sihanoukville, Kampong Speu and Pailin.
Summary of key achievement of program year 2007
149,089 of ANC visits by skilled providers
17,097 of pregnant women receives 4thANC visits
43,506 of pregnant women receive 2nd ANC visits
58,161 of currently FP clients
42,408 couple year of protection
318,933 of condoms sold
401 of pregnant women received HIV counseling and posted result for PMCTC
31 social events ( traditional performance) organized with 21,811 participants
157 of movie shows organized with 59,891 participants.
381,416 of participants received health education from outreach and health center support program
