PHNOM PENH: On October 26, Minister of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation, Chea Somethy and the Minister of Health, Chheang Ra, presided over the inauguration ceremony of the Assistive Technology project (ATscale) to improve management in rehabilitation services for persons with disabilities (PWD).

With ATscale’s three-year investment, Cambodia aims to expand physical rehabilitation services, particularly prosthetics and wheelchairs. It also aims to scale up vision screenings and improve the provision of affordable eyeglasses in the public sector, while improving quality in the private sector. The investment will help an additional 274,000 people in Cambodia get the AT they need.

Minister Chea Somethy said that the partnership is a demonstration of the Cambodian government's commitment and willingness to expand and improve the infrastructure of sustainable rehabilitation services in Cambodia and to equip it with modern assistive technology.

The Minister of Social Affairs said that Cambodia is home to 689,457 PWD aged 5 years and older, equivalent to 4.9% of the total population (according to a 2019 report) and the main causes of disability are disease, malnutrition, genetics, traffic accidents, occupational accidents, landmines and unexploded ordnance, violence, disasters, old age and more, depending on demographics.

He expressed the hope that the partnership between the ministries and the ATscale program will further develop assistive technology such as prosthetics for PWD in Cambodia.

He noted that the elderly, chronically ill and veterans are among the disabled, which is the target population of his ministry. He said that the blind population makes up .37% of the population as of 2019.

Health Minister Chheang Ra said that having a clear view of the world and the environment, being able to move freely and living independently is an inalienable right for persons with disabilities and that all Cambodians will have access to rehabilitation services and eye care.

He said, "The ATscale project says that we must not abandon anyone with a disability, and we must not only develop a service base, but we must give hope to all persons with disabilities. We not only provide prosthetics, but we also provide them with dignity and a better life."

The Health Minister said he was highly committed to a bright future for persons with disabilities to be able to move well, see things clearly and live with dignity. He also said that with unity and cooperation, we will move forward for the benefit and good future for persons with disabilities and all Cambodians.