About Us

In 1975 Cambodia suffered the worst recorded Genocide of the Post WW II 20th Century.  Pol Pot took over the country and the killing fields became history.  Many Americans feel that the secret bombing of Cambodia by US forces during the Viet Nam conflict set the stage for atrocities that followed.  It may take 100 years for Cambodia to recover. We are working diligently to advance the recovery of Cambodia, physically, mentally and spiritually. Your help is vitally needed.

Maternal Mortality: Cambodian women currently face a relatively high risk of dying from pregnancy and childbirth-related causes, maternal deaths accounted for 18 percent of all adult female deaths which have resulted in approximately 2000 deaths each year. The majority of these deaths are preventable; Adult female death has a significant impact on the family’s income and well-being. In addition, Cambodian women have a short life expectancy of only 58 years.

2005 CWHO Founded: Led by Obstetrician-Gynecologist Dr Hay Meas, a team of Cambodian expatriate healthcare professionals and social workers in the US, Canada and France founded the Cambodia Women Health Organization (CWHO). The founders feel that supporting improved maternal healthcare of the underserved Cambodian women will lead to better living conditions in Cambodia by producing healthier children and families.

CWHO members live mainly in the Seattle and Tacoma region of Washington State where the fourth largest population of Cambodian expatriates in the USA resides. 

Activity 2005: The primary focus of CWHO was incorporation, applying for 501C-3 status, fund raising, distribution of donations to 200 women of need in Cambodia, design of a pilot project to train traditional rural midwives in Cambodia and development of long term goals.

Activity 2006: CWHO implemented the first pilot project and training of 26 Rural Midwives in Cambodia. Conducted fund raising events in Washington, Oregon and Canada.

Activity 2007 Spring: CWHO is granted 501C-3 status by the IRS Ongoing planning for follow up assessment of the Midwife trainees.

Summer: implementation of a second training project for 26 Rural Midwives and focus group surveys both completed.  The purpose of the focus groups was to ascertain the beliefs of rural Cambodian women around their perceived healthcare needs.

Future Goals: Development of a rural maternal health care system  (based on the model of Alaska Native Rural Health Care clinics) operated under the supervision of a directing MD and staffed by CWHO trained healthcare professionals who will be assisted by trained Rural Midwives.
CWHO needs assistance to realize our dream.

An interview with Dr. Hay Meas, founder of Cambodia Women Health Organization

An interview with Mr. David Abrams

Seiu Meas speech at Cambodian Community Reception honoring U.S. Ambassador to Cambodia H.E. Charles Ray (Word document)

Rural midwife training - about birth control

Rural midwife training