PHNOM PENH, June 24 (Xinhua) — Cambodia and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) on Monday handed over equipment and materials towards the scaling up of school health rooms in 10 schools across northeast Mondulkiri province, said a joint news release.
The school health room initiative was aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of adolescents and youth at those schools, the news release said, adding that five secondary and five primary schools received new health rooms equipped with patient beds and mattresses, basic first aid items, and dignity kits for adolescent girls.
“This ensures that students in remote areas have access to essential reproductive and health care services and information, health education, and first aid within their schools,” the news release said.
Mondulkiri is the first province in the country to implement this model of sub-national partnership between the departments of health and education.
“By establishing these school health rooms, we are investing in the future of our next generations and empowering them to take charge of their health and well-being,” Bun Sou, director of the Provincial Health Department of Mondulkiri Province, said.
Ly Samik, director of the Mondulkiri Provincial Department of Education, Youth and Sport, said the initiative has supported the government’s vision of building human capital by prioritizing student health, including sexual and reproductive health.
Sandra Bernklau, representative of UNFPA Cambodia, said ensuring that all adolescents and youth have access to sexual and reproductive health information, support and services will ensure that young people are able to make informed decisions about their health, wellbeing and futures.
