Pro-Poor Pregnant Women Scheme To Begin In Cambodia

The Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen on Monday announced at the 11th National Veteran’s Day a multimillion-dollars scheme to support destitute pregnant women, starting from 2019.

“The scheme will cost 4.95 million dollars in the first year, 7.75 million dollars in the second year and up to 10 million dollars in the third year.

“This subsidy will start to be implemented from mid-2019,’’ Hun Sen said.

The prime minister said that the poverty-stricken families are identified by cards that local authorities issued to them, adding that it was estimated that the kingdom had some 55,000 poor pregnant women a year.

“This reflects our high attention to the pregnant women, aiming at reducing the mortality rate of mothers and children.

“This is a new policy on social sector that is carried out by the Cambodian People’s Party-led government,’’ Hun Sen said. In late 2017, the prime minister also announced to provide bonuses to garment factory workers, civil servants, and armed forces when they delivered their babies, starting from January.

“For garment factory workers, mothers giving birth to one child will receive 100 dollars, while mothers of twins will receive 200 dollars and triplet mothers will get 300 dollars.

“And for civil servants and armed forces, they will receive 200 dollars for giving birth to a child, 400 dollars for twins, and 600 dollars for triplets,’’ Hun Sen said.