PHNOM PENH: To celebrate International Children's Day on June 1, the Cambodian Red Cross donated $1 million USD to the Kantha Bopha Foundation of Cambodia. The handover ceremony took place at the Cambodian Red Cross Headquarters in the presence of the Treasurer General of the Cambodian Red Cross, Ouk Maly, and the Secretary of State of the Ministry of Economy and Finance and Executive Director of the Kantha Bopha Foundation of Cambodia, Ros Silva.
The $1 million will go towards the two Kantha Bopha Children’s Hospitals, represented by General Director of the Kantha Bopha Swiss Foundation, Denis Laurent, and Director of the Kantha Bopha Children’s Hospital in Phnom Penh, Prof. Kisanti.
Treasurer of the Cambodian Red Cross, Ouk Maly, conveyed the words of First Lady Bun Rany, who sent a message of appreciation to the delegation as well as the founders and leaders of the Kantha Bopha Foundation of Cambodia for their efforts to raise funds to support the children’s hospitals. The First Lady commended the doctors and staff of the Kantha Bopha Children's Hospital for their dedicated service in providing healthcare to tens of thousands of pregnant women and children across the country.
Ouk Maly also expressed deep gratitude to the Swiss Kantha Bopha Foundation for their continuous support and strong partnership with its Cambodian branch, ensuring the sustained operation of Kantha Bopha Children's Hospital.
Sec. Ros Silva thanked the Cambodian Red Cross for their ongoing contribution to the Kantha Bopha Foundation. He emphasized that this generous donation reflects First Lady Bun Rany’s commitment to promoting the welfare of children.
In addition to this invaluable support, Ros Silva highlighted the challenges faced by the hospital, such as the shortage of beds for women and the need for increased attention to reducing the newborn mortality rate. He mentioned the hospital's plans to build a new maternity ward with 120 beds (including 20 beds for babies) at Jayavarman VII Hospital in Siem Reap. Furthermore, the hospital is expanding its services, including chemotherapy, to treat various types of cancer in children.
The donation from the Cambodian Red Cross will greatly contribute to the Kantha Bopha Foundation of Cambodia's mission to provide essential healthcare services to women and children in need. This collaboration between the two organizations highlights the commitment to ensuring the well-being and health of Cambodian children and fostering a brighter future for the country.
