The Institut Pasteur du Cambodge (IPC) celebrated the 70th anniversary of its presence in Cambodia on May 23, during which it developed various research, many with significant impacts on public health.
Its scientists have distinguished themselves by validating short and vaccine-saving rabies vaccination protocols allowing a better acceptability and a reduction of the cost of vaccination.
“They have also remained at the forefront of research in the field of HIV-AIDS infections, drug resistance of malaria strains, emerging zoonotic viruses or respiratory viruses as demonstrated by its leading role in the response to the Covid-19 epidemic, alongside the Ministry of Health,” IPC said in a statement.
Thus, after 70 years of presence in Cambodia, the IPC, a member of the Pasteur Network, continues its missions and remains faithful to the “Pasteurian tradition” with competence and dedication for the benefit of science and always in the service of the health of Cambodia and the region.
The event held at the French Embassy was attended by Health Minister Mam Bunheng, French Ambassador to Cambodia Jacques Pellet, Paris-based Institut Pasteur international affairs director Fernando Arenzana-Seisdedo and IPC director André Spiegel.
The institute mentioned that the event was an opportunity to recall the important work IPC did in the field of research and public health as well as a tribute to all of its staff who worked at the institute in the last 70 years.
It was also to reminisce the concomitance of the creation of the IPC with the accession to independence of the Kingdom in 1953.
Since then, IPC has occupied three sites in Phnom Penh, starting with Chroy Changvar between 1953 and 1975, Toul Kork (1986-1994) and finally Boulevard Monivong since 1994, its current site, the institute stated.
“Since its creation, the institute has been conducting research, public health and training activities in the Pasteurian spirit, always aiming at the highest level of requirement and quality,” it added.