Community-Based One Health Training Reaches 56 Village Health Workers to Prevent Avian Influenza in Cambodia

Angkor Borei and Ba Srae Communes, Takeo Province, Cambodia — 7–9 August 2026

A team of public health and pharmacy students from the University of Health Sciences (UHS), Cambodia, completed a three-day community training on the prevention and control of avian influenza (H5N1) in two rural communes of Takeo Province. The initiative, supported by Chevron under the SEAOHUN One Health Campus-to-Community (OH-C2C) Challenge, represents Cambodia's winning team in the SEAOHUN 2026 regional student competition.

Bringing Together Community and Local Government

The training, held on 8 August, brought together 56 members of Village Health Support Groups (VHSGs) alongside commune council members, environmental officers, and agriculture officers from Angkor Borei and Ba Srae communes. This cross-sector participation reflected the project's One Health approach, connecting human health, animal health, and environmental stakeholders around a shared local risk.

Sessions covered three core areas:

• H5N1 awareness — understanding the risks, warning signs, and prevention of avian influenza.

• Safe carcass disposal — practical, low-cost methods for handling and disposing of dead poultry to limit disease spread.

• Community reporting — a dedicated Facebook group set up to strengthen early reporting of suspected bird deaths and speed up information-sharing between villages and local authorities.

Pre- and Post-Test Results

Pre- and post-test assessments showed an improvement in participants' understanding of H5N1 risks and prevention practices. Facilitators reported active engagement throughout the sessions, with participants asking detailed questions and expressing interest in applying the safety measures in their own villages.

A One Health Approach in Practice

"This project is more than just raising awareness — it's about working together with communities to protect people, animals, and our shared environment," the UHS student team shared.

The training is part of the team's broader OH-C2C project, A Community-Based One Health Approach for Health Promotion, Prevention and Control of Avian Influenza (H5N1) in a Rural Commune, Cambodia, which continues through October 2026 with further community engagement and a digital early-reporting system planned as part of its final deliverables.

The UHS student team extends heartfelt thanks to the Village Health Support Group members and commune officials in Angkor Borei and Ba Srae for their partnership in this effort, and to Chevron for its funding support of the OH-C2C Challenge.