World Breastfeeding Week 2019: "Empower Parents, Enable Breastfeeding"

Press Release

World Breastfeeding Week
By Project EMBRACE
Sandan District, Kampong Thom Province
August 20, 2019

On August 20, 2019, members of ADRA Cambodia’s EMBRACE team celebrated World Breastfeeding Week 2019 in Kleng Commune, Sandan district, Kampong Thom province. This year's World Breastfeeding Week slogan is “Empower Parents, Enable Breastfeeding.” Additional slogans were also present on the banners and produced T-shirts such as “I have breastfed my child, what about you?”; “We all support breastfeeding!”; “Breast milk is best medicine to protect children against various diseases!”; “Breastfeeding until the age of 6 months makes the baby smart and healthy!” They highlighted the best result from breastfeeding of mother to communities and key beneficiaries that EMBRACE project is targeting. The event was held in cooperation with the Provincial Health Department, Operational District of Health and the local authorities in Sandan district with total of 373 participants (241 females).

Key Objectives:

1.   Mothers need to start breastfeeding their babies immediately after delivery.

2.   To empower parents to encourage breastfeeding

3.   Provide single mother's milk to child during the first 6 months of life.

4.   Continue to breastfeed until at least 2 years of age and provide proper supplementation.

We were able to broadcast live on air via our project Radio program that was live at 10am to 11am from Kampong Thom Radio FM105.3 MHz in which we open questions for participants to ask guest speakers and chat related to the event. The special speakers presented were officials from the Provincial Health Department, Operational District of Health, Health center chief and midwives from Sandan district.

Mr. Roth Rumnea, a Senior Project Manager of the EMBRACE Project, said the program was designed to raise awareness among the community about breastfeeding and mother's milk only to their baby and to encourage all mothers to start breastfeeding immediately within the first hour after giving birth, which will provide her first milk. Exclusive breastfeeding should be practiced during the first six months and continue breastfeeding for at least 2 years of age with provision of appropriate supplementation.

Mr. Long Kisoeung, Sandan district Governor said that according to the 2014 Demographic and Health Survey report, the results show that in Cambodia, full breastfeeding practices of exclusive breastfeeding, the number has dropped from 73.5% in 2010 to 64.6% in 2014. Early breastfeeding onset within the first hour after delivery and continued breastfeeding up to 12 months was found to decline from 65.3% to 62.6% and decline from 83% to 80%. In addition, the provision of pre-defined supplementation increased significantly in both urban and rural areas between 2010 and 2014. He also added that "these drop rates is an urgent task to refine the practice of exclusively breastfeeding across the country." At the same time, there are many reasons for the decline in breastfeeding rates: migration, lack of knowledge about breastfeeding, cultural traditions, lack of support from family members and the widespread availability of products for sale of substitutes for breast milk (formula powder).  At the same time, he appealed to all mothers to take good care of breastfeeding to help the baby get the best start in life and help reduce illness.

Dr. Yim Phyvatho, deputy director of the Kampong Thom provincial Health Department, joyfully expressed his excitement and was happy for the community members in Kleng commune that could come together to celebrate this year 2019 World Breastfeeding Week for awareness and prevention of children health and their future. He also warned participants about the advertisement of dairy products such as Formula milk and pointed out that no other products are better than breast milk. Finally, he raised that the importance of breast milk is very important for the baby as there are a lots of benefits and enable children to avoid from many diseases.

Project EMBRACE (Enhancing Mother/Newborn/Child Health in Remote Areas through Health Care and Community Engagement), is being implemented by ADRA Cambodia. It is primarily funded by Canada’s International Development – Global Affairs Canada department with support from ADRA Canada’s generous donors.

    

"Tobacco Breaks Hearts! Choose health, not tobacco"!

Press Release

World No Tobacco Day

By Project EMBRACE

Sandan District, Kampong Thom Province

May 29, 2018

 On May 29, 2018, members of ADRA Cambodia’s EMBRACE team celebrated World No Tobacco Day 2018 on the theme of "Tobacco Breaks Hearts! Choose health, not tobacco" in Tomring commune, Sandan district, Kampong Thom province. They highlighted the harmful effects of tobacco and the second hand smoke on children, newborn babies, and pregnant women, the key beneficiaries that EMBRACE project is targeting. The session was held in cooperation with the Provincial Health Department, Operational District and the local authorities in Sandan district with total of 450 participants (245 females) come from around Tomring commune Sandan district. Kampong Thom province.

Key Objectives:
   1. To improve knowledge of people in the community to aware the serious affected of Tobacco on health through cigarettes and second hand smoking and others picture tobacco usages.
   2. People will know the serious affected of tobacco usage for pregnancy women and children caused by tobacco.
   3. Encourage people (parents, caregivers) to give up tobacco usage to improve their health and people around.

We were able to broadcast live on air via our project Radio program that was live at 10am to 11 am from the Kampong Thom Radio FM105.3 MHz in which we open questions for participants to ask guest speakers and chat related to the event.

Mr. Ken Chamroeun, Senior Assistant Project Manager of the Sandan EMBRACE Project, said the program was designed to raise awareness among the community about the serious health effects of smoking or tobacco or tobacco products to understand the serious health effects of smoking or tobacco or tobacco products. Pregnant women or small children who inhale secondhand smoke. Encourage people to give up their habit of smoking or tobacco for themselves and others.

Mr. Chum Virak, Deputy Governor of Sandan, said this is the first time that authorities and development partners have promoted tobacco products related to health and the economy. He said that tobacco products contain 7,000 toxic chemicals that make the user more ill with more than 6 million deaths and injuries each year, reported by the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization. More than 15 million Cambodians have more than 2 million tobacco users (Data from the National Institute of Statistics, Ministry of Planning 2014). And Cambodia has lost 10,000 people every year (Ministry of Health report). He added that for the benefit of the community, we all live healthier, we stop using tobacco products, which means we promote the health of the welfare community and also support the government in developing the nation! He has directed all the participants to bring this knowledge to the local community and to start from each one of us.

Mr. Randy, Police Officer: He used to smoke 2-3 packets a day. Everywhere people say he smells even when he is not in smoking. He lost a lot of money and did not get anything that brought bad health, such as rest to work, coughing and sharpening. After he quit smoking even his friends asked him to smoke, he refused at all times. Now, his health returns to good health and there is no cough and sharpness.

Project EMBRACE (Enhancing Mother/Newborn/Child Health in Remote Areas through Health Care and Community Engagement), is being implemented by ADRA Cambodia.  It is primarily funded by Canada’s International Development – Global Affairs Canada department with support from ADRA Canada’s generous donors.

EMBRACE team celebrated Midwifery Day "Midwife provides quality care"!

Press Release

Midwifery Day

By Project EMBRACE

Rovieng District, Preah Vihear Province

May 24, 2018

On May 24, 2018, members of ADRA Cambodia’s EMBRACE team conducted an awareness meeting on Midwife's Day on the topic of "Midwife provides Quality Care". The event was conducted to raise awareness and improve knowledge of women and villagers​​ on other problems pre and post birth deliveries and to encourage husbands to bring their wives to help on deliveries at health centers. The session was held in cooperation with the Provincial Health Department, Operational District and the local authorities in Chey Sen district, Preah Vihear province.

This was a live on air program event. We were able to broadcast live to local Phnom Tbeng Radio 97.3MHz, in which we open questions for participants to ask guest speakers to answer as much as possible.

Over 300 people including children, women, men, female and male youth participated.

Mr. Tith Sokham, deputy district governor of Chey Sen District who presented as a chairperson for the event, addressed to all participants to focusing on caring mothers and child health specifically Antenatal care (ANC) and Postnatal Care (PNC).

Ms. Muy Chanmoly, representative of midwives from provincial department gave a provincial health reports and provided some advices to mothers, fathers, also students to take care health by encouraging and bringing their wives, mothers, and sisters to closer health centers and hospitals.

Ms. Naung Sotheavy, representative of midwives from Tbeng Mean Chey Operational District, also provided similar messages of health care and what danger signs that affected mother and child health. She also encouraged mothers to go to health centers and hospitals even when there are no danger signs during pregnancy.

Project EMBRACE (Enhancing Mother/Newborn/Child Health in Remote Areas through Health Care and Community Engagement), is being implemented by ADRA Cambodia. It is primarily funded by Canada’s International Development – Global Affairs Canada department with support from ADRA Canada’s generous donors.

Smoke Free Home Campaign Event in Choam Ksant District's on the local news TV5

Here is a short media coverage from TV5 about the EMBRACE Smoke Free Home Campaign event in Choam Ksant...

Press Release: Smoke free Home Campaign Event

Choam Ksant District: On September 28, 2017, project EMBRACE (Enhancing Mother/Newborn/Child Health in Remote Areas through Health Care and Community Engagement), the project led by ADRA Canada and primarily funded by Canada’s International Development – Global Affairs Canada conducted an awareness meeting on Tobacco or Health, cooperating with the Provincial Health Department and the local authorities in Choam Ksant district, to promote the understanding and awareness to the community about the harmful effects of tobacco and the second hand smoke affecting especially children, unborn babies, and pregnant women, the key beneficiaries that EMBRACE project is targeting.

We were able to broadcast live on air via our project Radio program that was live at 10:00am-11:00am from the National Radio Station Phnom Tbeng FM 97.00 MHz. Participants came up and asked questions related to Tobacco or Health addressed immediately by Mr. Linh Yuth, deputy governor of Choam Ksant District, on site to the rest of the participants and the listeners to the Radio program. It was such an inspiring moment, when on air, the commune chief in Choam Ksant shared his story how he started smoking, then quit smoking, and how he has lived his healthy lifestyle ever since he has stopped smoking!

Approximately 350 persons joined the on-air awareness program including representative from the Provincial Health Department, from the Operational Health District, from all related departments around the district, local authority, commune people, teachers and students and ADRA team and partners. 

It is understood that tobacco harms health, economics, and the environment. And tobacco is also a danger factor that causes several non-communicable diseases such as having high blood pressure, stroke, heart attack, cancer, diabetes, etc.     

1.      Health: Every year tobacco kills more than 6 million people globally, and it will increase to above 8 million people in 2030 if there are no any intervention conducted. In Cambodia, our population is above 15 million people, and more than 2 million people are tobacco consumers (National Institute of Statistics, Ministry of Planning 2014), and among those 2 million people, ten thousand people die every year of this related diseases that are caused by tobacco (sources, Ministry of Health).

2.      Economics: According to the interview with several smokers, it is noted that the expense on buy the cigarette daily is equal to the expense on one meal! One smoker spent the money for 1 package of cigarette that cost 50 cents USD daily. So one year, he could spend 180 USD on cigarette. This interview is similar to the research on the total expense of Cambodians on the cigarette of above 200,000000 USD, and this amount of money can be used to purchase the good rice for above 30,0000 tons (National Institute of Statistics, Ministry of Planning). The research done by the National Center of Health Promotion of Ministry of Health shows that the expense on the treatment for five kinds of diseases that caused by using tobacco is above 162,000000 USD in 2013.

3.      Environment: Smoking in public harmfully affect both the smokers and those around! In addition, before the tobacco is used, it’s required to be dried and needs the wood from 20 to 25 meter cubes for one ton of tobacco!

Mr. Sem Rithy, Assistant EMBRACE Project Manager based in Choam Ksant district, welcomed participants and expressed appreciation for close cooperation with the Provincial Health Department and relevant provincial Departments in Choam Ksant District Hall to raise awareness about the harmful effect of tobacco on our health and promote smoke free homes. He explained that EMBRACE project works in Kampong Thom and Preah Vihear covering 168 villages in total will run until March 2020. Some key project activities are: to improve access to and quality of health services by:

      1. Constructing delivery and waiting rooms with medical equipment
 2. Training to medical staff and medical midwives related to Integrated Management of  
     Childhood Illness (IMCI).
 3. Conducting school youth health group
 4. Providing permaculture training to interest families
 5. Supporting on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and water filters
 6. Maternal and child health and nutrition and parenting

He stated that health is the key parts of the project activities and that it also includes the understanding of the harmful effects of tobacco and the second hand smoke affecting especially children, unborn babies, and pregnant women, the key beneficiaries that EMBRACE project is targeting!

Mr. Linh Yuth, deputy governor of Choam Ksant District, welcomed the participants including government officials, teachers and students from Choam Ksant High school, ADRA staff and partners, and the community members.

He said that this was the first time that Choam Ksant District Hall had an awareness program about the harmful effects of tobacco on health, economics and the environment and that this was a very important program for everyone to join! He shared tobacco products contain 7000 types of chemical substances that causes various diseases including disability. He stated more than 6 million people around the world die every year from tobacco-related diseases according to the report by Ministry of Health and World Health Organization (WHO). In Cambodia, our population is above 15 million people, and more than 2 million people are tobacco consumers (National Institute of Statistics, Ministry of Planning 2014), and among those 2 million people, ten thousand people die every year of this related diseases that are caused by tobacco (sources, Ministry of Health). So he encouraged all participants to pay attention to the program and the presentation made by the speakers and the facilitators on Tobacco or Health from ADRA Cambodia so that we may apply the practices in our daily living to promote health among our families in our homes and in our communities. He added that in this way we are contributing and supporting our Government in developing our country!

Mr. Ros Ravann, Tobacco or Health specialist from ADRA Cambodia presented about the harmful effects of tobacco on health

and demonstrated how tobacco affects the health of our body parts, and demonstrated its effects through an artificial lung. A group of ADRA local partners demonstrated how a family can live happily and in a healthy way by just simply stopping smoking!

For more information, please contact:
-Mr. Sem Rithy: EMBRACE Project Assistant Project Manager
Tel: 077 800013 | E-mail: rithys@adracambodia.org
-Mr. Monh Nhem: EMBRACE Project Assistant Project Manager
Tel: 012 952646 | E-mail: nhemm@adracambodia.org
-Mr. Kong Phano: Public Relations Coordinator, ADRA Cambodia
Tel: 077 398477 | E-mail: phanok@adracambodia.org

Smoke Free Home Campaign Event in Choam Ksant District!

28 September 2017, Here are some photos from the Tobacco or Health Awareness meeting in Choam Ksant District. Will share the press release and the media coverage soon!

IEC materials: Volleyball uniform: Community awareness program and campaign

Volleyball uniform designed with key messages for community awareness program, specially targeting men and youth males on special health and nutritional needs of WRAs, pregnant and lac-tating women, and new-borns.

The message says:

Bal Teas Kone Chhn'eah (which mean Playing volleyball, your child will win)

For you (darling) and our child to be healthy,
you (darling) have to eat enough additional nutritious food every day!

Our EMBRACE Project Agents of Change (AoCs) are On TV!

Our Project EMBRACE Agents of Change (AoCs) are in the news!

This recent past week was World Breastfeeding Week, and our project team including Agents of Change from ADRA Canada has taken parts in the celebration. Here is the news clip that was broadcasted on the National TV. Check it out!

"The AoC Study Tour is part of EMBRACE, a maternal and child health project led by ADRA Canada and primarily funded by Canada’s International Development – Global Affairs Canada."

Press Release for World Breastfeeding Week!

On August 9, 2017, our project EMBRACE (Enhancing Mother/Newborn/Child Health in Remote Areas through Health Care and Community Engagement), the project led by ADRA Canada, and funded by the Government of Canada, through its agency, Global Affairs Canada, has celebrated World Breastfeeding Week cooperated with Provincial Health Department and the local authority in Sandan district, Kampong Thom province. The event was conducted to raise the awareness to the community about the importance of breastfeeding after there has been report from specialized institution stating that the percentage of exclusive breastfeeding in Cambodia was dropped significantly from 2010-2015. The topic for this year World Breastfeeding Week is: “We together promote breastfeeding for the better future of our children.”

Mr. Roth Rumnea, the EMBRACE project Manager of ADRA Cambodia said that we are glad to be able to celebrate this important World Breastfeeding Week and he shared five key messages during the event:
            1. “We together promote breastfeeding for the better future of our children.”

            2. “Breastmilk is the best nutrition of the baby and child.”

            3. “Born right away, breastfeeding right away, make a child healthy.”

            4. “Immediate breastfeeding within the first hour after delivery save the live of the
                 child alot.”

            5. “Breastfeed your child at least for two years and provide additional meal when the
                 child is six months old and above.”

Mr. Long Kiseung, the governor of Sandan District mentioned about the report of Cambodia Demographic and Health Survey 2014 that shows the practice of complementary and exclusive breastfeeding has dropped from 73.5% in 2010 to 64.6% in 2014. The percentage of immediate breastfeeding within the first hour after delivery and the continuous breastfeeding until the child is 12 months was found dropped from 65.3% to 62.6% and from 83% to 80% respectively. In addition, providing additional food before the right age of the child was increased significantly both in urban and rural areas between 2010 and 2014. He stated that seeing this report of this decreased percentage we have to put in first priority to improve the practice of exclusive breastfeeding in the country to be better. At the same time, we have also found some reasons that caused the drop of the breastfeeding habits such as migration, lack of knowledge and understanding about the importance of breastfeeding, old habits and tradition, lack of support from family members, and the increase of the promotion of baby milk formula sale instead of breastfeeding.

Seeing this decrease in breastfeeding, the Ministry of Health through its National Nutrition Program supported by development partners HKI, Unicef MTI FHI36 Alive, Thrive, Save the Children, and World Vision Cambodia working together to initiate celebrating World Breastfeeding Week again from 2015. In 2017, the National Nutrition program of Ministry of Health collaborated with HKI and relevant development partners launch the celebration of World Breastfeeding Week under the topic: “We together promote breastfeeding for the better future of our children.”

This event was conducted for the whole morning from 7:30am until 11:30 with the participation of representatives from the Provincial Health Department, Provincial Operational Health District, District office, relevant official in Sandan district, development partners, all 3 Health Centers, Commune, Schools, students, and community members totaling 400 participants including the ADRA Canada Agents of Change.