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.

    

Press Release: Opening Ceremony of Delivery/ Waiting Rooms and Health Center

Opening Ceremony of Delivery/ Waiting Rooms and Health Center

October 3, 2018

Kompong Thom, Cambodia

October 3, 2018 will be a very exciting day for the people of Tumring, Socheat, and Chheu Teal Communes in Sandan District, Kampong Thom province.

Two standalone labour and delivery room buildings and a health center with a labour/delivery room suite will be officially opened.  The buildings were constructed by ADRA Cambodia through the Enhancing Mother/newBorn/child health in Remote Areas through health Care & Community Engagement (EMBRACE) and HELP Health Center Construction projects.

EMBRACE began in February 2016 and is focused on improving the health of mothers and children living in remote regions of Cambodia, Myanmar (Burma), Philippines, and Rwanda.  Over the course of its four year lifespan it will serve an estimated 100,000 people, of which about one third are children.

EMBRACE is also raising public awareness of maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH) within Canada.

Within Cambodia, the EMBRACE project targets 168 communities in the Choam Khsant, Chey Saen, Rovieng, and Sandan districts and is directly improving the lives of approximately 39,990 people.

EMBRACE focuses primarily on improving and saving the lives of women of reproductive age, newborns, and children under five.  These objectives are achieved through health and nutrition behavior change, communication, and the empowering of staff and systems in health clinics. Building and equipping these labour rooms, delivery rooms, and the health center is key to this empowerment. The labour rooms reduce the risks for pregnant women by providing a space for them to stay before and after their delivery.

At March 2018, the percentage of mothers and pregnant women screened for warning signs related to the pregnancy, delivery, or health of child or mother and then referred to health centers or hospitals increased from 27.3% to 45.5%.  Referral and screening for pregnant women and girls and boys (U5) screened for malnutrition increased from 15.0% to 44.2% for girls and from 9.7% to 43.9% for boys. These new facilities will further help to improve these percentages.

The opening ceremony for all of these buildings will be conducted in one place at the new Health Center in Khors village, Tumring Commune.

The standalone delivery/waiting rooms are located at Sandan Health Center, Sandan Village, Sandan Commune and at Chheu Teal Health Center, in Kampong Taben village, Sandan district, Kampong Thom Province and were built by ADRA Cambodia through the EMBRACE project.  The new Health Center building with the delivery waiting room included in the main building is located at Khors village, Tumring Commune and was built in partnership with HELP Health Center Construction.  This includes ring wells, incinerators and equipment.

Approximately 500 persons will be present at the inauguration ceremony of the health center and delivery waiting rooms, including His Excellency Sok Lou, the Governor of Kampong Thom Province, Governor, Deputy Governors and officials around Sandan district, Kampong Thom Provincial Health Department Director, Kampong Thom Operational District, and Health Center Chief, Ms. Allison ​Stewart, Chargé d’affaires, Cambodia Office of the Embassy of Canada, Mr. Frank Spangler, representative from ADRA Canada, Mr. Mark Schwisow, Country Director of ADRA Cambodia, ADRA Cambodia project team members as well as students and community members from Tumring, Sochet and Chheu Teal Communes.

EMBRACE is funded by a partnership between the Government of Canada through Global Affairs Canada and ADRA Canada.  It is being implemented in Cambodia by ADRA Cambodia.

 

 

"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.

Fortified Food Training and Field Practice at village 04-05 September 2017

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.

Celebrating World Breastfeeding Week 2017

Today our team is celebrating World Breastfeeding Week. We have approximately 400 participants join the events plus the present of the Agents of Change from Canada who have just arrived in the country!

Saying farwell to Nasra!

Saying farewell to yet another friend - until we meet again!
For the past seven months, Nasra has been working with us to support our project EMBRACE based in Preah Vihear and Kampong Thom Province. On behalf of ADRA Cambodia team and the project team, we want to thank you for all your time of service and wish you all the very best in your future mission! Take care and God bless!

Permaculture training in Sandan areas

Permaculture kitchen garden design as part of practice on the site for 27 participants on initial training for EMBRACE Sandan target areas! Can't wait to see the crop growing!