|
The Cambodian Institute of Child and Adolescent Health (CICAH) is a local Non-Government Organization that aims to provide health related information and services to disadvantaged children, adolescents, and mothers within the Municipality of Phnom Penh. Initially, CICAH was founded by H.E. Oknha Dr. Mengly J. Quach in 2004 as a means to promote education amongst disadvantaged children through scholarships. Since then, the concept of CICAH has been developed with a clear goal and objectives in order to improve the health of children in Cambodia. CICAH’s programs will cooperate and form relationships with local schools and other NGOs that are active within the health sector.
CICAH’s goals are to foster knowledge and provide services that will eliminate diseases which can cause death; promote healthy lifestyles; and develop a sense of worth and well-being amongst disadvantaged youth so they may live their lives to its fullest potential. Only through the promotion of education and access to resources can these disadvantaged youth develop a better understanding of their own physiology so that they may follow a healthy path towards adulthood.
Youth in Cambodia today face a host of medical and social problems such as malaria, HIV/AIDS, and substance abuse that have the potential to deprive them of their well-being, lower their mental cognition, and ultimately cause death. Entrenched poverty prevents many of them from nutritional diets or access to health care facilities. Often many youth, especially street children, loose hope for any chance of a positive future and engage in destructive habits that deteriorates their own health and ultimately takes its toll on the whole of Cambodian society.
CICAH is an organization that will act in direct response to the growing health issues faced by Cambodian youth today. Its programs will provide much needed information and resources in order to counter these harmful elements and teach them about these issues and promote healthy lifestyles within the Cambodian context.
CICAH will focus its efforts on children, adolescents and mother ages 0 to 21. Due to the wide range of ages, programs will be tailored into different cohorts. However, the initial entry point of program delivery will be through the development of a youth library and health resource center, as well as the creation of a free bi-monthly health magazine.
Already, a location for CICAH’s future Youth Library and Resource Center has been graciously donated by the American Intercon Institute at #217 ABCD, Mao Tse Tung Blvd, Sankat Tuol Svay Prey 1, Khan Chamkarmon, Phnom Penh. The location features over 180 m³ of floor space available for the library and includes two small offices and washroom facilities.
The expected result is the beneficiaries of CICAH’s programs will develop a better understanding of health related issues, change their habits accordingly, and disseminate information they have learned to their families and peers.
Please return to this web site at a later date as it is currently being developed.
|
