Cambodia was ravaged by more than 40 years of political instability, over a decade of war and the brutality of the Khmer Rouge regime. Today 78% of Cambodians live in deep poverty and healthcare provision is desperately poor.
- Four out of five Cambodians lives on less than $2 a day
- The country has the highest infant mortality rate in South East Asia (98 per 1,000 live births)
- Only one in six people has access to safe drinking water
- 58% of people in mountainous areas were living below the poverty line in 2004, up from 40% ten years earlier
While poverty has decreased overall in recent years, the health of indigenous people living in mountain areas has declined dramatically, along with the quality of health services available to them.
Health Poverty Action is working in these remote areas to:
Increase access to health services in Mondulkiri and Ratanakiri
In Mondulkiri and Ratanakiri we are helping indigenous people advocate for better healthcare and services.
Prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS
In Ratanakiri we are educating people about how to prevent the spread of HIV infection.
Fight the incidence of Malaria in Preah Vihear and Ratanakiri
We are working across the country to reduce the prevalence of malaria, particularly among women and children.
Improve mothers’ access to health services
We are improving access to maternal health services for indigenous women in Cambodia and Peru, through a joint advocacy project.
In the news: Health Poverty Action’s work with traditional birth attendants
“Considering the current lack of adequate numbers of highly skilled midwifes, short-to-medium term advances in reducing maternal mortality can only be achieved through constructive engagement with traditional birth attendants,” says Andrew Martin, Health Poverty Action’s country director in Cambodia.
Last modified: 27/01/2012
