Medical Workshop "How can the public sector address the health of the people and communities it serves?"
Written By: WFWP Cambodia
A medical workshop was set up on November 22, cooperating with a government institution called the Royal School of Administration (RSA), Ministry of Civil Service, and inviting health-related officers and others from several ministries.
The Ministry of Civil Service is the ministry that manages whole public institutions in Cambodia and is engaged in the improvement and renewal of national and social systems. WFWP Cambodia has a cooperation relationship with the RSA under the ministry.
Doctors belonging to a charity medical organization in Japan presented four topics in the workshop: 1. Government /public sector involvement in maintaining people's health; 2. Iodine deficiency; 3. Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic syndrome and 4. Medical cooperation system.
Regarding topic 1 and 4, Japan's medical services and systems were introduced as references for Cambodian government officials to appropriately support the health of their citizens.
Regarding topic 2 and 3, these two presentations included discoveries and issues found from WFWP’s past medical service activities in Kratie Province, and for this reason WFWP Cambodia invited medical professionals from Kratie Province to participate.
There is an urgent need to disseminate correct knowledge about dietary habits in general in this country, among both children and adults, such as how to deal with iodine and sugar (including energy drinks) and MSG. Otherwise people from early ages will destroy their health. Therefore, it was very valuable to be able to use this opportunity to report our findings to a wide range of people involved in policy making in the country. The government has a responsibility to protect the health of its citizens by providing appropriate guidance.
In the venue we had 290 participants, and since the content was broadcast live, more than 300 officials at the same time listened to the presentations online.
After the presentation, all reports were submitted to RSA in document form. We expect that people's health issues will be understood at the national level and some actions will be taken to improve the current situation.
Most importantly, the underlying purpose of this workshop was to demonstrate the importance of having a public spirit. As doctors and public figures, public interests for society and each individual should be pursued over one’s self interest.
