Phnom Penh: The Chairman of the Board of the Samdech Techo Young Volunteer Doctors Association (TYDA), Lt. Gen. Hun Manet, has stated that the activities of TYDA do not replace the mechanisms put in place by the Royal Government, but rather contribute to the Government’s efforts to provide health services to the people.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony to welcome new members to TYDA on Sunday, 21 August, Lt. Gen. Hun Manet stated that TYDA is a mechanism that opens doors and provides opportunities for members, allowing them to participate in humanitarian activities without discrimination across the country in collaboration with a wide range of partners.

He stressed that TYDA’s activities do not replace the mechanisms established by the Royal Government, but only contribute to the provision of health services to the people, with direct encouragement from the head of the Royal Government.

"As a national policy and a generous concept of Samdech Techo (Prime Minister Hun Sen), Samdech always encourages NGOs and associations to contribute to helping people in all possible ways, including in the health sector, which is a priority area,” said Hun Manet.

As of 2022, the Samdech Techo Young Volunteer Doctors Association (TYDA) is 10 years old and has more than 8,000 members carrying out humanitarian activities across Cambodia. These activities have resulted in almost 350,000 people receiving medical treatment, of which more than 6,000 were critically ill patients transferred to Phnom Penh. Additionally, 58 of these patients have had successful operations. The association is sponsored by Prime Minister Hun Sen and First Lady Bun Rany Hun Sen.