A SMILE for Moms and Kids in Cambodia deemed worthwhile by CIDA
2012
The Government of Canada provides funding for ADRA Canada/ADRA Cambodia’s Securing Mothers’ and Infants’ Lives with Equity (SMILE) project, valued at more than $2.6 Million. ADRA Canada required to raise contributions of nearly $663,000.
Oshawa ON- Preah Vihear province is a densely forested, remote, sparsely populated area in northern Cambodia. As a result, the province has received minimal health assistance and consequentially, has some of the worst health indicators for women and children in the country. Mortality rates for children under age five (U5) are high, with one in seven dying before age five. Additionally, 94% of births take place at home without the assistance of a properly trained birth attendant, and only 38% of pregnant women receive qualified antenatal care.
The SMILE project seeks to reduce mortality of mothers and children under age five in Chieb, Chey Sen and Rovieng Districts of Preah Vehear province, through the following multi-faceted approach:
- Educating mothers, women of reproductive age, and caregivers in health and wellness, with a focus on reproductive health and recognizing and managing childhood illnesses;
- Continuing education of healthcare providers in the fields of reproductive health and childhood illness, with an emphasis on providing knowledge that will improve access to quality health services;
- Nutrition education training with a focus on micro nutrient and protein rich foods for U5 boys and girls, mothers, pregnant women, and women of reproductive age, to reduce occurrence of disease and preventable illness amongst participants.
The 42-month SMILE project will directly benefit 70,455 underserved women and children under age five.
ADRA Canada and ADRA Cambodia have a history of partnership dating back to 1993, when, with the support of CIDA, a community health program was introduced to rural villagers. Since that initial project, the two ADRA offices have partnered on a youth sexual reproductive health training program, call-in radio program, Tobacco control advocacy, and most recently the SMILE program to benefit the people of Cambodia. The SMILE program is further strengthened through the support of M’day Reakreay Kone Reakreay (MRKR, an NGO based in Cambodia) and Hincks Dellcrest (based in Toronto, ON).
*Project undertaken with the financial support of the Government of Canada provided through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).