Phnom Penh Honored by WHO for Road Safety Improvements

Phnom Penh, Cambodia – The Phnom Penh Municipal Administration has been honored with a 2026 World Health Organisation (WHO) Healthy Cities Recognition Award for its significant strides in improving road safety and fostering healthier, safer, and more equitable urban mobility. The prestigious award was presented on September 1st in Sydney, Australia, during the 11th Global Conference of the Alliance for Healthy Cities and the 2026 WHO Healthy Cities Recognition Awards. A delegation from Phnom Penh, led by Municipal Governor H.E. Khuong Sreng, accepted the accolade. According to Ms. Dor Samphors, Deputy Director of Administration and Spokesperson for the Phnom Penh Capital Administration, the recognition highlights the capital's sustained efforts to enhance the health and well-being of its residents. These efforts encompass infrastructure development, improvements in local education and healthcare services, and the creation of safer transportation systems. Phnom Penh has been actively collaborating with the Partnership for Healthy Cities (PHC) since 2017. This partnership has facilitated the implementation of various projects aimed at promoting public health and mitigating risks associated with non-communicable diseases. Key initiatives include enhancing food safety and well-being within educational institutions, reducing road accidents attributed to drunk driving, and advocating for smoke-free public spaces in popular tourist and pedestrian zones, such as Chaktomuk Walk Street. In 2025, the Phnom Penh Municipal Administration also initiated a pilot project focused on upgrading infrastructure and support facilities to ensure safer travel for students around two key educational institutions: the Cambodia-Vietnam Friendship School and Hun Sen Chak Angre Primary and Secondary School. The project concentrated on three critical measures: educating students and local residents on road traffic laws; implementing infrastructure enhancements and installing modern safety features like traffic signs, road markings, smart speed-limit displays, and security cameras; and reinforcing traffic monitoring, with increased deployment of traffic police and officers during peak student arrival and departure times. The administration reports that these measures have effectively reduced traffic risks and significantly improved safety for students, teachers, and residents in the targeted school vicinities. The recognition comes after a rigorous evaluation process involving over 150 cities across the Asia-Pacific region that applied for the 2026 WHO Healthy Cities Recognition Awards. Phnom Penh was among the eight selected cities to receive this esteemed award. By C. Nika