Kidshelp Cambodia – Addressing the Diabetes Crisis in Cambodia

Diabetes is an urgent and growing public health challenge in Cambodia. While national data suggests prevalence is high, many people living with diabetes remain undiagnosed or lack the knowledge and support needed to manage their condition effectively. In rural communities especially, limited access to screening and health education means preventable complications often go unaddressed.

Through our partnership with Kidshelp, the Elsevier Foundation is supporting a community-centered approach that links education, early detection, and frontline capacity building. By investing in female nursing students and equipping them with evidence-based training and tools, this collaboration strengthens both immediate patient support and the longer-term resilience of Cambodia’s health system.

At its core, this partnership recognizes that sustainable health improvement depends not only on services, but on informed communities and confident, well-trained healthcare professionals.

What do we do

Together with Kidshelp, we support the training and mentorship of female nursing students in diabetes prevention and management. Students gain access to high-quality clinical learning resources and practical guidance that enable them to translate knowledge into meaningful community action.

The partnership also strengthens community awareness by supporting culturally relevant health education initiatives. Through local outreach activities, nursing students engage directly with villagers to provide screening, share information on prevention and healthy lifestyles, and offer personalized guidance to individuals living with diabetes.

This integrated approach ensures that learning is not confined to the classroom, but actively contributes to improving health literacy and access to early diagnosis in underserved areas.

How we deliver

The program combines structured training, supervised field engagement, and ongoing patient support.

• Nursing students receive focused instruction in diabetes management and community engagement, building their confidence to operate in real-world settings. Equipped with accessible educational materials developed in the local language, they conduct community screening activities that create trusted entry points for early detection.
• Individuals identified as at risk are offered follow-up support through regular visits and personalized coaching. These engagements emphasize practical lifestyle adjustments, medication adherence, and sustained encouragement — helping patients move from awareness to action.

By embedding learning within community service, the partnership advances two priorities simultaneously: expanding access to preventive health information and strengthening the next generation of healthcare professionals.