High-Level Meeting with the RGC on Joint Program to Support Returning Migrants during COVID-19 Crisis and its impacts - WHO

Samdech Krolahom Sar Kheng, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of the Ministry of Interior,

Your Excellencies, Ministers, Secretaries of State, Distinguished Participants, Ladies and Gentlemen,

As part of the UN Country Team to Cambodia, I am honoured to be here today at this high-level meeting. Together with my UN colleagues, I would like to take this opportunity to express our great appreciation to the Royal Government of Cambodia for the successful response to COVID-19 to date. As of today, Cambodia has rapidly detected and responded to 165 COVID-19 confirmed cases with no death reported.

As you know, this virus is not going away. Today, close to 13 million confirmed cases, including more than 570,000 deaths, have been reported to WHO.

Globally, the pandemic is speeding up. In the last six weeks, cases have more than doubled. As long as the virus is spreading like wildfire around the world, it remains a persistent threat to Cambodia, as evidenced by the recent imported cases.

Fighting this new virus has been very challenging for everyone. There are still many uncertainties. We cannot precisely predict how the virus will behave in the future.

I wish to highlight three important aspects that we can work together to limit COVID-19 transmission, prepare for the possibility of large-scale community transmission, and minimise the health and socioeconomic impacts.

(1) First, health and the economy go hand in hand.

• Like many countries, Cambodia needs to find the right balance between protecting health and reopening the economy. There is no magic solution, but everything is possible in Cambodia. We look forward to seeing innovative Cambodian approaches to get the balance right.

• The best way to protect the economy is to invest in the health system. With a strong public health system, we can detect, test, treat and isolate cases, trace and quarantine contacts rapidly to stop community transmission of COVID-19.

• If the health system is not strong enough, responding to a COVID-19 outbreak may require a largescale lockdown—which would have a devastating impact on both health and the economy.

• The health sector alone cannot ensure a strong and resilient health system. It takes a whole-of-government approach. Investment in heath is an ongoing and future challenge that we need to address.

• Making Cambodian tourism safe is another example where health and the economy go hand in hand. Tourism operators need to find creative ways of offering safe tourism services, and individuals need to continue to take preventative hygiene measures.

(2) Second, invest in preparedness, including local preparedness.

• Preparation never causes regrets. A good emergency response is one where there has been preparation before the emergency hits.

• Last week, I had the honour of visiting Battambang, Banteay Meanchey and Siem Reap with Her Excellency Dr Or Vandine to see firsthand how each province has been preparing for and responding to COVID-19. My sincere thanks to Their Excellencies, the provincial governors, and all the health care workers.

• This local preparedness and response is critical to success. We have already seen great progress and the value of the multisectoral collaboration. It is vital to invest in strong and trusted relationships between partners at the national and sub- national levels. Decentralization has made this increasingly important.

• If we prepare now, we will not have regrets later.

(3) Third, protect the vulnerable.

• Vulnerable populations, such as garment factory workers, migrants, poor families, can face barriers to accessing services that prevent, control and treat COVID-19 and other life- threatening diseases.
• Our concern is simple. If the virus spreads to vulnerable populations, the health and socioeconomic impacts will be huge. We do not want to see such a scenario.

• We are very pleased to see that the vulnerable groups including migrant workers are prioritized in Cambodia.

• Throughout this crisis, WHO has been pleased to work with the Ministry of Health and other government ministries, our UN Country Team, and many health partners to support the Royal Government of Cambodia.

• Cambodia is a great success story that has accomplished many important things over the past six months. Cambodia has responded to COVID-19 rapidly to date. Cambodia has acted in solidarity.

• Together, we can create a new normal for Cambodia—and a world—that is healthier, safer and better prepared.

  Thank you.