PHNOM PENH: The President of the Cambodian Red Cross and the outstanding national figure of the Joint Action Plan of the United Nations Secretary-General, First Lady Bun Rany Hun Sen, has called on all pregnant women in Cambodia to consult a doctor or midwife at their nearest health center or hospital on a regular basis, at least 4 times during their pregnancy, and to get vaccinated as directed by their medical professional.

In the message released by First Lady Bun Rany Hun Sen on the occasion of the National Day of Maternal and Child Health on 21 February 2022, under the theme "Strengthening the provision of reproductive health services, maternal and child health and the provision of Covid-19 vaccine to pregnant women and mothers who are breastfeeding", she said the field of maternal, infant and child health are currently severely affected because the rate of men and women of childbearing age, pregnant women who need to get health checkups, and receive maternity and postpartum care is declining.

The First Lady, along with the Cambodian Red Cross, educate people on the benefits of going to at least four health checkups during pregnancy, undergoing childbirth at the health center or hospital, conducting regular maternal and child health examinations, receiving postpartum care, fulfilling the required vaccination of children (including for the Covid-19 vaccine) and also on how to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis.

The First Lady has also called on mothers to breastfeed only from the time the baby is born until the baby is six months old and staring to take in other food. She further called on mothers to take their baby to the hospital immediately if they show any signs of respiratory infection, diarrhea or other diseases, to use contraception, and to especially not forget to strictly implement the "3 Dos and 3 Don’ts" Covid-19 preventive measures.

In 2021, the content of such key messages are reported to have reached 8,498 pregnant women and children, and 2,064 women were reported to have received postpartum livelihood support.