Cambodia and Fred Hollows Foundation Expand Partnership to Strengthen Eye Health System

The Cambodian Ministry of Health and the Fred Hollows Foundation (FHF) have agreed to strengthen their collaboration in developing a sustainable eye health system, aiming to eliminate preventable and treatable blindness. During a meeting held on September 7, 2026, at the Cambodiana Hotel, Minister of Health Professor Chheang Ra and Ross Piper, CEO of FHF, expressed their commitment to this partnership. The cordial and warm exchange highlighted the strong and faithful cooperation between the Ministry of Health and FHF, which has been instrumental in supporting the development of eye health in Cambodia for nearly three decades, since 1998. Professor Ra expressed his sincere gratitude for FHF's continued support, including their investment plans and cooperation for the period of 2026-2029. These initiatives are expected to bring new potential and significantly contribute to transforming Cambodia's eye health sector, encompassing human resource development, infrastructure, service provision, and national policy formulation. Furthermore, the Minister expressed his support for FHF's vision to continue acting as a "long-term health system strengthening partner," aligning with the goals of health system development and the principles of local leadership and ownership. In their discussions, both parties focused on six key priority areas for cooperation in eye health. These include: 1) Strengthening governance and policies to ensure an efficient and equitable eye health system. 2) Supporting the implementation of the National Strategic Plan for the Prevention and Control of Blindness and developing provincial roadmaps according to local needs. 3) Developing and strengthening human resources in eye health, including human resource mapping, training, and the adoption of new technologies such as Teleophthalmology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in eye care. 4) Expanding and strengthening primary eye health services, improving patient referral systems, and managing the quality of eye health services in both public and private sectors. 5) Expanding school-based eye health programs nationwide to promote children's eye health and support their education. 6) Strengthening data and evidence systems to support effective policy development and decision-making. Professor Ra also urged FHF to actively mobilize international resources, innovative technologies, and research for Cambodia, and to extend support to remote provinces and communities where vulnerable populations have a high demand for eye health services. In response, Ross Piper thanked the Cambodian Ministry of Health and affirmed FHF's commitment to continuing to strengthen and expand its cooperation with the Ministry to support the development of a sustainable eye health system and ensure that more Cambodian citizens receive quality and equitable eye health care. In conclusion, both parties reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining close cooperation and expressed confidence that through their strategic plans and joint efforts, they will significantly contribute to reducing and eliminating preventable and treatable blindness, thereby achieving the goal of universal health coverage for all Cambodian people. Source: CPP Cambodia