Meeting of Inter-Ministerial Committee to Combat COVID-19 and United Nations Country Team (UNCT) - WHO

Excellency Professor Mam Bunheng, Chair of the Inter-Ministerial Committee To Combat COVID-19 and Minister of Health

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am honoured to speak here today on behalf of the World Health Organization. I would like to express our sincere appreciation to His Excellency Prof. Mam Bunheng and Excellencies for your strong leadership.

WHO has been calling for a whole-of-Government and a whole-of-society approach in preparing for and responding to COVID-19 in all countries around the world. I am very pleased to see Cambodia’s multisectoral approach in fighting against COVID-19. Together, we will save lives and protect health while minimising the social and economic impacts of the virus. The Inter-Ministerial Committee meeting with the UN Country Team today is an excellent example of our solidarity in Cambodia. WHO highly appreciates the great efforts made by so many ministries, all the provincial governments and partners. Local level preparedness and response is key to the pandemic response, as the UN Resident Coordinator just emphasized.

We are in the fourth month of the COVID-19 pandemic. While we see some good news in some part of the world, the global situation remains a high cencern. As of 29 April, almost 3 million confirmed cases, including more than 205,000 deaths, have been reported to WHO from 213 countries, territories and area. In the WHO Western Pacific Region where Cambodia belongs to, more than 145,000 confirmed cases and almost 6,000 deaths have been reported to WHO. Behind every one of these numbers is a real person, and each of these deaths is a tragedy. Our work is to prevent more of these tragedies. Our mission is to save lives and protect health. Different countries are at the different stages of the pandemic. While some countries are facing the increased cases and doing their aggressive response, other countries are considering reopening business and lifting lockdown. WHO advises that countries should consider six criteria before lifting restrictions:           

1. COVID-19 transmission is controlled;

2. sufficient health system and public health capacities are in place;

3. the risk of outbreak in high-vulnerability settings is minimized;

4. workplace preventive measures are established;

5. the risk of imported cases is managed; and

6. communities are fully engaged in “the new normal,” where prevention measures are maintained.

Cambodia has responded rapidly and aggressively to all the 122 cases with no further spread to date. There has been no new cases since 11 April. This achievement is commendable and past investment paid off. However, Cambodia is still at the early stage of the epidemic. We must be vigilant. We must continue our great efforts to prepare for possible widespread community transmission. It is likely the virus will be with us for a long time. This long-term battle requires that we all act with solidarity, vigilance and plenty of patience. Over the past four months, we have learned so much about the new COVID-19 pandemic. So, what have we learned so far globally and from the WHO Western

Pacific Region? I wish to share you some of our reflections that will be useful forus in Cambodia.

1. First, COVID-19 is a new disease with many unknowns and high uncertainty, we have to be ready for any new surprise. We cannot predict precisely how this new virus will behave in the future. We should remain our open-mind and some flexibility for new learning, adjusting our response measures based on our new risk assessment and new evidence. Local context and cultures are important to be considered.
2. Second, a strong public heath system is our first line of the defence. A strong public health system both at national and local levels helps detect, test, isolate every single case rapidly, trace and quarantine all close contracts in a timely matter to stop local transmission.
3. Third, a high-level health care system readiness cross the country saves lives and helps mitigate health, social and economic impacts. Health care workers are our front line fighters and must be protected including provision of training, technical guidelines and tools, personnel protective equipment and medical supplies.
4. Fourth, applying a risk-based approach for balanced decisions on public health and social measures is a tough job, but an essential part of the pandemic response. Current experience shows that none-pharmaceutical interventions such as individual preventive measures and physical distancing do help slow virus transmission.
5. Fifth, protecting the vulnerable population and managing high risk setting should be prioritised. Experience from some countries show that higher transmissibility occurred in areas with poor ventilation and crowded spaces.
6. Sixth, a “new normal” is our smart choice on our new way of living and new way of working in the future. The world cannot go back to the way things were. Cambodians should expect a “new normal” where handwashing, cough etiquette, and physical distancing measures are part of everyday life. Making schools and workplaces safe is another example of the “new normal”. These are smart public health practices all the time—not just during an outbreak like this one. Community engagement is essential.
7. Lastly, COVID-19 provides us with an opportunity to invest and transform our heath system to be fit for the future. A “Crisis” means a combination of “danger” and “opportunity”.

In conclusion, the COVID-19 pandemic has already taught us the simple most important lesson: investment in health and in pandemic preparedness is investment in economic and social development. They are the two sides of the same coin.

Excellencies, colleagues,

This is a unique moment in history. The world has seen pandemics before, such as the Spanish flu from 1918-1919 and H1N1 in 2009. But this is a new coronavirus, the first ever of its kind. Our actions today will be in the history books of tomorrow.

As the specialized UN agency for health, WHO is fully committed to continue to work closely with the Royal Government of Cambodia, especially the Ministry of Health, the UN Country Team and partners in fighting against COVID-19

Thank you