AKP Phnom Penh, February 20, 2026 -- Samdech Kittiprittpundit Bun Rany Hun Sen, President of the Cambodian Red Cross, on Wednesday called for the strengthening of maternal and newborn healthcare systems to ensure "quality, safety, and efficiency," even in settings affected by conflict and emergencies.

In a formal address marking Cambodia’s National Day for Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health (Feb. 21), Samdech Kittiprittpundit Bun Rany Hun Sen—who also serves as a UN National Champion for Women’s and Children’s Health—emphasised that robust healthcare is a cornerstone of the country's "Vision 2050" development goals.

"The future of our nation depends on the health of our newborns, children, and youth," Samdech Bun Rany said in the statement dated Feb. 18. "They are our most strategic assets."

The 2026 observance, themed around maintaining antenatal care in crisis-affected settings, highlights a shift toward long-term health system resilience. Samdech Bun Rany praised the Ministry of Health’s proactive crisis recovery efforts and its focus on innovation.

She specifically lauded "white-shirted soldiers"—the nation’s healthcare workers—for their frontline role in providing care to vulnerable groups, including displaced persons, the elderly, and the disabled.

The Red Cross chief outlined a five-point action plan to align Cambodia with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the National Strategy on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights 2025–2030:

Antenatal Monitoring: Pregnant women are urged to complete at least four scheduled check-ups and seek immediate hospital care for "danger signs" such as bleeding or blurred vision.

Emergency Logistics: Local authorities are tasked with organising timely transport and ambulance services for women nearing childbirth, particularly during disasters.

Service Efficiency: A call for health officials to deliver higher-quality, safer services to build public trust.

Community Mobilization: Red Cross volunteers will collaborate with health authorities to disseminate life-saving medical messages at the grassroots level.

International Cooperation: Samdech Bun Rany appealed to civil society and international development partners for continued technical and financial support to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B by 2030.

The statement underscored the link between public health and economic stability, noting that "health and well-being" are prerequisites for human capital development and sustainable growth.

Samdrch Bun Rany concluded by thanking the Royal Government, security forces, and international donors for their dedication to the principles of universal health coverage and integrity.

By K. Rithy Reak