Cambodia accelerates efforts to eliminate schistosomiasis by 2030 with new strategic plan

For families living along Cambodia’s Mekong River in Kratie and Stung Treng provinces, daily life – fishing for dinner, bathing after work, washing clothes by the water – carries a hidden health risk: schistosomiasis, a parasitic disease caused by the blood fluke Schistosomiasis mekongi.

Over the past three decades, Cambodia has made significant progress in reducing infection rates of schistosomiasis. A new national strategic plan builds on these efforts and is setting Cambodia on course to move from disease control to eliminating Schistosomiasis mekongi by 2030, protecting around 80 000 people who remain at risk.

Eliminating schistosomiasis, saving lives

Schistosomiasis found in Cambodia is one of the four intestinal schistosomiasis, which spreads through a cycle involving freshwater snails, contaminated water, and human contact. When infected people’s stools enter the river, they release parasite eggs that hatch in the water. These parasites then develop inside specific snails living along the Mekong River. The snails release larval forms of the parasite that can penetrate human skin during everyday activities. Once inside the body, the parasites mature and can cause stomach pain, bloody diarrhea, and over time, severe liver damage. The cycle then continues when infected people’s waste re-enters the water.

Breaking this transmission cycle and eliminating schistosomiasis would transform daily life for communities along Mekong River and its tributaries. Children would grow up healthy and attend school regularly without stomach pain and fatigue. Adults could maintain their livelihoods without chronic illnesses that have affected previous generations.

_{A Cambodian fisherman along the Mekong River in Stung Treng Province. Daily activities such as fishing, bathing, and washing clothes expose communities to Schistosomiasis mekongi. © WHO / Dyna Doum}

A comprehensive roadmap to elimination

In early July 2025, the National Center for Parasitology, Entomology and Malaria Control (CNM) organized a two-day workshop to finalize the National Strategic Plan for the Elimination of Schistosomiasis mekongi in Cambodia 2026-2035 in Stung Treng province. Supported by WHO Cambodia, the China Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund (GDF), and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), the workshop brought together over 40 stakeholders, including national experts, development partners, and provincial health and rural development authorities from endemic areas.

The National Strategic Plan sets an ambitious goal: achieve zero new human infections by 2030 and secure WHO verification of elimination by 2035. To achieve this, the plan integrates interconnected strategies for disease elimination.

Mass drug administration (MDA) campaigns treat entire communities in high-risk areas by eliminating parasites from the body, hence preventing infected people from contaminating water sources. Improvements in water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) ensure people have access to clean water and toilets, minimizing contact with infested river water. Health education and engaging local leaders empower communities to recognize risks and adopt protective behaviors that become part of daily life.

In addition, enhanced surveillance enables health workers to detect new cases early and respond quickly, preventing wider spread. Coordinated action is also needed between the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery, and the Ministry of Rural Development to expand WASH facilities in schools and rural areas, while collaboration with neighboring Lao PDR addresses transmission risks across borders.

_{Workshop on the National Strategic Plan for the Elimination of Schistosomiasis mekongi in Cambodia 2026–2035 in Stung Treng and a field visit to Komphun Health Center. © WHO / Dyna Doum}

In addition to the workshop, WHO, SDC, and the Ministry of Health jointly conducted a field visit to Komphun Health Center and nearby villages. The visit gave relevant stakeholders first-hand insights into daily life in affected communities, helping them design interventions that respond directly to communities’ needs.

Combining expertise for a disease-free future

In the Mekong region, Cambodia and Lao PDR are the two countries affected by Schistosomiasis mekongi. Sharing both a border and the Mekong River, the countries are aligning their strategies to interrupt transmission and prevent resurgence after elimination in the future.

“Eliminating schistosomiasis in the Mekong region is within reach — now more than ever, success relies on collective effort. We are witnessing this collaboration in action through treatment, surveillance, education, and WASH. Together, we can achieve it — that’s the spirit of our partnership among Laos, Cambodia, China, Switzerland, and WHO. From individuals and communities to national institutions, renowned research institutes, and global organization, we are uniting to turn the impossible into reality and drive progress toward eliminating this disease once and for all,” said Jean-Gabriel Duss, Regional Director, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation in Mekong Region.

_{A community leader gathered villagers to conduct a CL-SWASH health education session in Kratie Province. © WHO / Dyna Doum}

Through partnership with the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute and the National Institute of Parasitic Diseases in China, Cambodian health professionals have received extensive training in advanced diagnostics and disease mapping. This means they can detect cases earlier, track where transmission is happening, and respond before the disease spreads.

Throughout affected communities, people understand both the toll schistosomiasis takes and the hope that elimination represents. Village health workers and community leaders support the campaigns and help their neighbors understand how to stay safe.

“Cambodia’s new strategic plan provides the roadmap and coordination mechanisms for all partners working toward the same goal. WHO and our partners from China and Switzerland are committed to supporting the Royal Government of Cambodia and its ministries every step of the way, so that families along the Mekong River can live, work, and thrive without the impact of this disease,” said Dr Marianna Trias, WHO Representative to Cambodia.

From community empowerment to national leadership and regional collaboration, Cambodia is moving steadily toward a schistosomiasis-free future.