Phnom Penh (FN), Aug. 21 – Recognizing the necessity to keep urban services functioning as best as possible to limit negative impact of COVID19, Phnom Penh received funding from the global Partnership for Healthy Cities to support primary schools, markets and municipal administrative offices to welcome people in the safest ways possible. That is, by ensuring all can practice preventive behaviors, as recommended by WHO. Public markets in particular are high priority, as they are very important centers of commerce and of food supply for Phnom Penh residents. It is estimated that the city’s 23 public markets welcome everyday approximately 92,000 people, or about 5% of the capital’s population. 30,646 vendors work there, and rely on their activity to make a living.
To contribute to Phnom Penh City Hall fight against the COVID19 pandemic, the Partnership for Healthy Cities has provided 319 alcohol dispensers, 319 isopropyl alcohol (5L) containers, and 1642 A3 posters on COVID19 protective measures to 23 markets in Phnom Penh under Phnom Penh City Hall. The handover event was inaugurated by His Excellency Nuon Pharat, Vice Governor of Phnom Penh and was attended by chief of markets and representatives from the Intersectional Division of Phnom Penh City Hall who are in charge of managing markets in Phnom Penh. The total assistance provided totals up to approximately USD 30,000.
The handover to the 23 markets includes: Beung Keng Kang Market, Chak Angre Market, Toul Kork Market, Chhumpuvan Market, Beung Tumpun Market, Chbar Ampov Market, Porchentong Market, Senchury Plazza Market, Depo Market, Toul Tumpung Market, Teuk Thla Market, Cheko Kilo Met 6 Market, Chrang Chomras Market, Kandal Market, Central Market, Samaki Market, Steung Mean Chey Market, Olympic Market, Vegetable Market, Oreusey Market, Dermkor Market, Old Market Market, Preak Leap Market.
The COVID19 prevention project aims at supporting Phnom Penh City Hall to ensure all students in public schools, sellers and buyers at public markets, and citizens can practice the WHO recommended protective behaviors as best as possible. It will also equip a number of the public schools, markets, and municipal administrative offices with automatic antiseptic solution dispensers and/or handwashing stations. A specific communication campaign will also take place to ensure COVID19 is well understood, and recommended prevention behaviors are well practiced.
This project is supported by the Partnership for Healthy Cities, which is a global network of cities committed to saving lives by preventing non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and injuries. Supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies in partnership with the World Health Organization and Vital Strategies, this initiative enables cities around the world to deliver a high-impact policy or programmatic intervention to reduce NCDs and injuries in their communities. The Partnership for Healthy Cities has expanded its support to cities during the COVID19 pandemic.
Phnom Penh City Hall was selected for implementation of a 6-month project to highly encourage the Capital’s residents to practice adapted behavior in the wake of the pandemic, with a specific focus on schools, markets and municipal administrative offices. Phnom Penh and the Partnership for Healthy Cities have already been successfully working together since 2018 on raising awareness on the long-term dangers of sugary drinks consumption in public.
=FRESH NEWS
