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 of World No Tobacco Day by EMBRACE in Choam Ksant 2019

Press release of World No Tobacco Day by EMBRACE in Sandan 2019

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.

 

 

World Breastfeeding Week 2018: "Breastfeeding is a solid foundation of life"

World Breastfeeding Week

By Project EMBRACE
Sandan District, Kampong Thom Province
August 20, 2018

On August 20, 2018, members of ADRA Cambodia’s EMBRACE team celebrated World Breastfeeding Week 2018 on the theme of "Breastfeeding is a solid foundation of life and the yearly slogan are Breast milk is an invaluable magic medicine for preventing children from various diseases and breast milk, helping to develop the most intelligent baby brain." in Ngon commune, Sandan district, Kampong Thom province. They highlighted the best result from breastfeeding of mother to communities and 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 250 participants (195 females) come from around Ngon commune Sandan district. Kampong Thom province.

Key Objectives:

1.   Mothers need to start breastfeeding their babies within 1 hour of first delivering, which will be useful first.

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

3.   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 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. And the special speakers are PHD, OD and HCs chief and midwives from Sandan district.

Mr. Ken Chamroeun, Senior Assistant Project Manager of the Sandan EMBRACE Project, said the program was designed to raise awareness among the community about breastfeeding and mother's milk only to their baby. He also added that breastfeeding immediately during the first hours after giving birth and can prevent 20% of babies' deaths. Only children who have been breastfed for the first 6 months can reduce diarrhea 11 times and pneumonia 15 times as much as children who have not been breastfed. Long-term breastfeeding is linked to advanced intelligence, good academic performance, and high earning outcomes.  He encouraged mothers to apply the messages from this event to provide better life for all human.

Ms. Sim Sidarath, deputy governor of Sandan District, said that according to the Demographic and Health Survey 2014, the results show that in Cambodia, the complete breastfeeding practice of exclusively breastfeeding was decreased from 73.5% in 2010 to 64.6% in 2014. Breast milk initiation in the first hours after giving birth and continuing breastfeeding to 12 months was found to decrease from 65.3% to 62.6% and to fall down from 83% to 80%. Additionally, predetermined pre-supplemental feeding has increased markedly in both downtown and rural areas between 2010 and 2014. Mrs. Deputy Governor added that seeing these drop rates are the most urgent task to improve the performance of single breast milk throughout the country. At the same time, there were several reasons for the drop in breastfeeding rates, such as: migration, lack of knowledge about breastfeeding, mother culture, cultural traditions, and lack of support from Family members.

Dr. Keo Dary, deputy director of the Kampong Thom Operation District Office, said that people in Ngon commune were lucky enough as we chose the location for the 2018 World Breastfeeding Week because within the area covered by the Kompong Thom Operational District Office, there are only two sites that will be in service. He also pointed out the importance of breast milk for the baby:

1) Breast milk is the first birth control vaccine for infants because the first milk contains antibodies against viruses and the white blood cells more than normal milk.
2) The first mother's milk helps keep the baby's intestines strong because they are rich in nutrients that can help prevent other allergic reactions.
3) Mother's milk is rich in herbs that help reduce the number of infections that can develop in babies.
4) Initial baby milk is small, but it can really respond to baby needs.

In the end, the doctor advised the mother to continue to implement the recommendations and continue to disseminate information to neighbors for understanding and reducing the risk of infant death.

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 Dissemination Meeting: Analyzing Results, Planning for Impact, Reach and Sustainability

Round Table Workshop on local TV: Media coverage

Check out the Round Table Workshop on the local TV for media coverage:

Round Table Workshop Focusing on the First 1,000 days

"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