Cambodia Hosts Regional Symposium for Parliamentarians on Sustainable Immunization Financing

AKP Phnom Penh, July 05, 2012 –

Sixty (60) officials from four countries including Cambodia, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Mongolia gathered here yesterday in the 4th Regional Symposium and 2nd Provincial Level Consultation on Sustainable Immunization Financing for Parliamentarians, Elected Members and Local Officials under the chairmanship of H.E. Mrs. Khuon Sudary, Second Vice President of Cambodia’s National Assembly.

Addressing the event, H.E. Mrs. Khuon Sudary said it is an important forum for the participants to share their experiences in order to find means and solutions to tackle the challenges faced by people in the region and the world, especially the women and children.

The sustainable immunization financing is an effective key to improve the child and maternal health, she said.

H.E. Mrs. Ho Naun, Chairwoman of Health, Social Affairs, Labor and Women Affairs Commission of the National Assembly underlined the Cambodian National Assembly’s active participation in the protection and promotion of health care and health equity by approving relevant laws and ratifying concerned treaties, conventions and international protocols.

H.E. Dr. Eng Huot, Cambodian Secretary of State for Health, said the national budget on child immunization has increased annually since 2001.

Cambodia spent some US$65,000 in 2001 to buy basic vaccines for the children, and the expense increased to US$130,000 in 2010 and it is expected to reach US$2.2 million in 2013, he said.

Eight different types of vaccines have been provided to the children throughout Cambodia, and the Ministry of Health has been conducting further studies on other diseases, which can be prevented by vaccination.

By KHAN Sophirom