PHNOM PENH: Secretary of State of the Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation, Em Chan Makara, stated that the Royal Government, led by Prime Minister Hun Sen, considers the disability sector as one which needs attention and support. He added that because of this, the sector has continued to grow, along with the support of outside donations.
Speaking at the handover ceremony for donations from Singaporean citizens at the Ministry of Social Affairs this morning, Secretary of State Em Chanmakara welcomed the donations and said that they come at a time when the Disability Action Council has received many requests to help the elderly who could not walk. He added that these donations also help to support persons with disabilities in Cambodia. The donations from Singaporean citizens include 30 wheelchairs, 30 boxes of noodles and 30 fishing rods.
"These donations now coincide with the growing need of persons with disabilities in Cambodia, while the situation of Covid-19 in Cambodia continues to affect the economic status of persons with disabilities," he said. "The food that Ryan and his colleagues bring also act as a contribution to the relief of the disabled."
Singapore Charity Representative Mr. Ryan expressed his appreciation for the Royal Government of Cambodia's policies and measures to support persons with disabilities in the country. He promised that he would mobilize more assistance to Cambodia to help the disability sector, and also expressed confidence that the Ministry of Social Affairs and the Disability Action Council would do good work to help the disability support sector in Cambodia grow further.
"The only places helping persons with disabilities [in Cambodia] are the Ministry of Social Affairs and the Disability Action Council," he said.
According to reports from Disability Action Council, there are approximately 700,000 persons with disabilities in Cambodia. The report adds that the status of persons with disabilities in the Kingdom is consistently taken care of by the Royal Government to ensure that all citizens are able to participate in the development of the country equally.
Cambodia currently has 11 rehabilitation centers that provide rehabilitation services to no less than 20,000 persons with disabilities per year, while a new a center that provides services to persons with disabilities is currently being built.
As of 2020, there are 8,768 persons with disabilities working in public and private institutions nationwide, of which 4,204 are women. Additionally, as of 8 November 2021, the Ministry of Social Affairs has been cooperating with other relevant ministries, institutions, and the Capital and Provincial Disability Action Council to process disability identification throughout the country to produce disability cards for 215,358 people. From this total, 26,949 persons with disabilities are recorded as self-employed entrepreneurs.
During the Covid-19 outbreak, 61,426 persons with disabilities were provided with cash by the Royal Government of Cambodia to help them cope with the crisis caused by the pandemic.
