Eliminating Malaria in Cambodia
Photo by Mao Daneth/CRS
After battling malaria three times, Meouy Buntear knows the life-threatening disease all too well. But his last bout in 2019 did not defeat him. Instead, it motivated him to receive training as a mobile malaria worker through a Catholic Relief Services project that supports eradicating malaria in Cambodia. CRS has been working in northeast Cambodia since 2018, collaborating with the National Malaria Control Program, provincial health departments and local health centers to accelerate malaria elimination.
Koah Peak is home to people who depend on agriculture and forest products for their livelihoods.
Photo by Mao Daneth/CRS
In Cambodia, malaria is a year-round risk, especially in rural and forest communities in the town of Veun Sai, where Meouy lives. People there depend on agriculture and the forest—foraging for fruits and harvesting resin—for their livelihoods. As forests are also breeding grounds for mosquitoes that carry the disease, this also puts many at high risk. Between 2021 and 2023, 448 cases were reported in Veun Sai.
Making a difference in the community
Meouy Buntear, right, is a mobile malaria worker who provides timely malaria tests to community members.
Photo by Mao Daneth/CRS
Since becoming a mobile malaria worker in late 2019, Meouy has used his experience to help others. He tests around 50 suspected malaria patients each month and has significantly contributed to the decline of malaria in his community. By 2021, malaria cases had dropped by 40%.
“I’m happy to see no malaria in my area now,” says Meouy. “This great result has many factors: forest workers taking preventive medicine, sleeping under treated nets, and the active role of mobile malaria workers in testing and education. This helps with early diagnosis, timely treatment and reduced transmission.”
Early malaria diagnosis by mobile workers is critical to reducing transmission and aiding in Cambodia's malaria elimination efforts.
Photo by Mao Daneth/CRS
One of Meouy's patients, Kaveb Meourb, is a 22-year-old cashew nut farmer. Kaven credits Meouy with saving his life.
"After being cured of malaria, I am more cautious about prevention,” says Kaveb. “I sleep under a treated bed net and use mosquito repellent. I also shared my treatment experience with my neighbor, whose daughter was suspected of having malaria. He took my advice and brought his daughter for a malaria test. Malaria affects our health, so I genuinely want all patients to seek blood tests and receive the cure.”
Collaborating to eliminate malaria
Meouy Buntear, right, shares his inspiring story with a CRS staff member.
Photo by Mao Daneth/CRS
The efforts of malaria workers like Meouy are crucial in the fight against malaria across Cambodia. In Banlung, which is a larger town roughly 24 miles north of Veun Sai, cases dropped from 309 in 2021 to 62 in 2023—largely because of malaria workers.
Bin Chinda, the Banlung health operational district malaria supervisor, praises the collaborative efforts that have led to these impressive results.
Taphin Khaeng, right, says he feels empowered by Meouy Buntear's recommendation to use insecticide-treated bed nets to protect his family from malaria.
Photo by Mao Daneth/CRS
“I am proud and happy with the result we have achieved. Malaria cases have declined drastically. However, we need to continue our efforts and be vigilant in following up on the malaria situation,” Bin says. “I also recognize that the satisfactory results we have seen were not driven solely by the district team, but also by the great contributions we had from our partners. For example, CRS supports the district a lot in terms of timely reporting, capacity-building in financial management, stock management and malaria case management. CRS’s support around data quality is especially important, because data is evidence, enabling us to track the malaria situation,” says Bin.
