Phnom penh: The Phnom Penh Municipal Administration has been honored with a 2026 World Health Organisation (WHO) Healthy Cities Recognition Award for its significant efforts in enhancing road safety and fostering healthier, safer, and more equitable urban mobility.
According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, the award was presented on September 1 in Sydney, Australia, during the 11th Global Conference of the Alliance for Healthy Cities and the 2026 WHO Healthy Cities Recognition Awards. The event was attended by a Phnom Penh delegation led by the Municipal Governor, H.E. Khuong Sreng. The recognition highlights Phnom Penh's ongoing commitment to improving the health and well-being of its residents through infrastructure development, local education and healthcare service enhancements, and the establishment of safer transport systems.
Ms. Dor Samphors, Deputy Director of Administration and Spokesperson for the Phnom Penh Capital Administration, stated that since 2017, Phnom Penh has collaborated with the Partnership for Healthy Cities (PHC) on various projects aimed at promoting public health and mitigating risks associated with non-communicable diseases. These projects involve improving food safety and well-being in educational institutions, reducing road accidents due to drunk driving, and promoting smoke-free public spaces in tourist and pedestrian zones like Chaktomuk Walk Street.
In 2025, the administration initiated a pilot project to enhance infrastructure and support facilities for safer travel around the Cambodia-Vietnam Friendship School and Hun Sen Chak Angre Primary and Secondary School. The project focused on educating the community about road traffic laws, improving infrastructure with modern safety facilities, and strengthening traffic monitoring with the deployment of traffic police during peak times.
The administration reports that these measures have effectively reduced traffic risks and improved safety for students, teachers, and residents in the targeted areas. Phnom Penh's recognition is part of an evaluation involving over 150 cities across the Asia-Pacific region, with eight cities, including Phnom Penh, selected to receive the awards.