Phnom Penh, 07 June 2021 – With financial and technical support from the Chinese government through the South-South Cooperation Assistance Fund (SSCAF), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in partnership with the Ministry of Health (MoH) has launched a new project to support the Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC) to effectively manage medical waste during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.

As Cambodia faces its largest outbreak of COVID-19 to date, challenges exist for the proper and safe treatment of infectious medical waste. The country currently has limited stock of personal protective equipment, full sets of equipment to manage waste and wastewater, and the expertise and experience required to manage infectious waste.

In response to these needs, the SSCAF funded project, Learning from China’s Experience to Improve the Ability of Response to COVID-19 in Asia and the Pacific Region on Medical Waste Management, will work with the three facilities originally designated for COVID-19 treatment in Phnom Penh. The main components of the project include a full set of equipment for medical waste collection, segregation and treatment, personal protective equipment, capacity building and training that enables healthcare workers and service providers to manage infectious solid waste and wastewater properly and safely.

UNDP will work closely with the three facilities, the Khmer-Soviet Friendship Hospital, Chak Angrer Health Center, and National Pediatric Hospital, along with the MoH, World Health Organization, and medical waste management experts from China. The project will further engage urban communities to ensure infectious waste is properly managed to prevent and minimize public health and environmental hazards.

“Today, we are honored to share that through UNDP Cambodia, the Government of the People’s Republic of China has provided 12 sets of medical waste management equipment to strengthen medical waste management capabilities in Cambodia. The project launched today with the official handover of this equipment is a contribution towards the prevention of the spread of COVID-19,” said H.E. Professor Mam Bunheng, Minister of Health.

“This project is an epitome of what China is contributing to the international development cooperation during the pandemic of COVID-19. In close cooperation with UNDP and the Ministry of Health of Cambodia, we are working together to alleviate the shortage of waste management in post COVID-19,” said H.E. Wang Wentian, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China in the Kingdom of Cambodia.

“Executed under the South-South cooperation framework, this project reflects China’s commitment to join hands with Cambodia to fight against COVID-19 until victory is achieved, and also sends a strong signal along with other four Asian countries and UN agencies that unity and cooperation are the international community’s most potent weapon to overcome the pandemic. With the vision of a community with a shared future for mankind, we will continue sharing our experience in pandemic control and treatment, and work with others to uphold regional and global public health security.”

“This project comes at a critical time for Cambodia. Ensuring the country’s urban centers can safely and effectively handle the treatment of medical waste during the pandemic is a key part of continued efforts to control the spread of the virus and its impact on Cambodia and its people,” said Nick Beresford, UNDP Cambodia’s Resident Representative.

The project is part of the SSCAF COVID-19 regional project, which spans across five countries in the Asia Pacific.

Ends

For media inquiries, please contact:

Mr. WU Guoquan, economic and commercial counsellor, Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Kingdom of Cambodia, cb@mofcom.gov.cn

Mr. Samruol Im, Head of Communications, UNDP Cambodia at samruol.im@undp.org

UNDP is the United Nations' global development network and is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and planet. Learn more at https://www.kh.undp.org/ or follow us at @UNDPCambodia.

South-South Cooperation Assistance Fund aims to promote South-South cooperation, and support developing countries in participating in global economic governance on an equal footing. It is an innovative initiative for the Chinese government to champion the 2030 Agenda and facilitate sustainable development in other developing countries. More information please see the white paper titled China’s International Development Cooperation in the New Era.