Cambodia has a pressing on with reopening and the emphasis of the Royal Government is now on shifting to the ‘new normalcy’ and making Cambodia open for tourism and business by managing milder cases of COVID with home treatment. But, it remains to be seen whether the escalating case total of Omicron in Cambodia and the world will alter these plans.
After October 2021’s spectacular downwards trend in reported cases as a result of a policy of not counting ‘rapid’ testing and ‘mild’ cases of COVID-19 in the official daily case figures, daily case figures dropped strikingly. However, the start of Omicron has now meant that case figures are now travelling rapidly up again. There have been 138,467 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 3,056 deaths, reported to WHO. As of 1 December 2022, a total of 44,981,700 vaccine doses have been administered. More than a health crisis, Covid-19 is a humanitarian and development crisis. Its impacts have been felt by all, especially the most vulnerable Cambodians including girls and boys, people with disabilities, and the elderly from the poorest households.1 Minister of Education Youth and Sport issued that all public and private educational institutions nationwide have been ordered to strictly implement all Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs) and guidelines to ensure the health and safety of students.
The government has been prioritizing the lives of educational staff and students and practicing the preventive measures of the three dos and don’ts as part of a resilient educational system and response to the crisis. During the official ceremonial opening of the 2022-2023 school year on 02 January 2023 the government announced, “the new normal of education” and put emphasis on Covid-19 protective measures, saying that all educational institutions must continue to improve health education and respond to disasters while maintaining preventive measures such as the three dos and don’ts.
Prudence Foundation’s SAFE STEPS Kids programme is helping the fight against COVID-19 with a fun new video promoting good hygiene. It was developed in partnership with the Cartoon Network and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC), the video titled “Be Clean Be Cool” is currently aired across Asia. The video features iconic characters from the cartoon: The Powerpuff Girls, We Bare Bears, Teen Titans Go!, Adventure Time and Ben 10. Messages include covering your mouth when you sneeze, trying to avoid touching your face and washing your hands properly.
In addition to the video, there are a few developed materials, namely posters and cards focusing on 1. How to prevent Covid-19, 2. Be Clean Be Cool (safe), 3. How to properly wear a mask, 4. How to enjoy colouring a mask, 5. How to find relevant Covid-19 protection words.
Phase 1 of the Safe in School project through integrating Safe Practices of Hygiene to Prevent the Spread of Covid-19 in Schools used Be Clean Be Cool materials from March to October 2022 has been contributing to the fight against COVID-19 with a fun new video promoting good hygiene. 15,000 school children (7,700 girls) in 40 schools in Stung Treng province and Phnom Penh prevented the spread of COVID-19. Currently in Phase II, the project focuses on six key actions including:
1. Print and distribute Be Clean Be Cool and adapted Covid-19 and hygiene materials to schools
2. Training on Be Clean Be Cool and Safe WASH in school promotion to school teachers and principals
3. Support schools to organize Be Clean Be Cool and WASH in School promotion campaigns and public forums
4. Organize school drawing and songwriting competition on the application of Covid-19/hygiene practice
5. Distribution of materials for covid-19 prevention and safe WASH in schools such as soap, sanitary pads, water tumblers and face masks
6. Organize reflection workshops to promote knowledge sharing and peer learning in strengthening safe in schools