Health: USAID announces funding to support the fight against tuberculosis and the impact of heavy metals

USAID Administrator Samantha Power yesterday announced new US initiatives to “support the health and well-being of the Cambodian people”, particularly in the fight against tuberculosis (TB).

USAID Cambodia Administrator Samantha Power

At a press conference in Siem Reap yesterday, Samantha Power announced a new five-year programme to support Cambodia's fight against tuberculosis (TB), a disease that claims thousands of lives in the country every year. USAID's COMMIT 2 (Community Mobilization Initiatives to End Tuberculosis 2) programme will be implemented by KHANA, the Alliance of Khmer HIV/AIDS NGOs.

“USAID has committed $4 million for the first year of the programme. Through COMMIT 2, one of USAID's largest direct contributions to a Cambodian organisation, 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,” said the Administrator.

Over the past 20 years, Cambodia has almost halved the rate of tuberculosis in the country, and the country is no longer on the World Health Organisation's list of the 30 countries most affected by tuberculosis. This is real progress. However, it is estimated that 54,000 Cambodians still contract tuberculosis every year, and that around a third of cases go undetected.

The Administrator also announced a commitment of more than $51 million, in partnership with UNICEF and the Royal Government of Cambodia. This includes support for a first-of-its-kind national survey to assess levels of heavy metals such as lead and arsenic in children, pregnant women, the environment and products. The results of the survey will help the Royal Government of Cambodia to make evidence-based decisions to improve regulations on heavy metals.

Finally, Ms Power announced $12 million in new funding to support a range of demining activities, including mine clearance and risk education for local communities.

To date, US partners have cleared more than 1.5 million landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) 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 US Indo-Pacific strategy. We know that we are all safer when infectious diseases like tuberculosis are less prevalent, and that we are all stronger when there is equitable access to healthcare. These investments advance our common interests while demonstrating the deep partnership that exists between USAID and the Cambodian people,’ Power said, adding:

‘USAID remains firmly committed to helping Cambodia achieve its development goals by improving the health of the Cambodian people, including preventing lead exposure in mothers and children, and building capacity to address future public health threats.