Health minister Ra honoured by French gov’t
MINISTER of Health Chheang Ra has been honoured as a Knight of the National Order of the Legion of Honour by the French government.
The honour was created by French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802, and can be awarded to soldiers and civilians who have served France, or supported causes defended by France.
On behalf of French President Emmanuel Macron, French ambassador to Cambodia Jacques Pellet bestowed the honour on Ra in a February 1 ceremony at the French embassy in Phnom Penh.
The minister received the award in recognition for his work in fostering a close relationship between France and Cambodia in the health sector, especially in his various
roles at Calmette Hospital.
Before presenting the honour, Pellet explained that following the 1991 Paris Peace Agreements, Calmette Hospital had been selected as the national referral hospital and received aid from France, as part of the rebuilding of the
Kingdom’s healthcare sector.
Ra worked at the hospital for over 25 years, from 1998 to 2023, first as deputy director-general and then director-general.
Pallet recalled the rapid development of the health sector since 1993, noting that Cambodia now has many experienced doctors, as well as modern facilities.
“[Ra] played a key part in the successful growth of the Kingdom’s healthcare, thanks to his efforts to work tirelessly and professionally,” he said.
A French-language speaker, Ra expressed his thanks to France for its support of the health sector, noting that many French dignitaries had made contributions.
“This work is difficult, but essential. Healthcare is a priority part of the Kingdom’s development strategy. After all, is there any nobler task than protecting the health of our people?” he added.
He described the Kingdom’s healthcare successes as the result of joint efforts, referring to the support of French healthcare specialists as one of the reasons development had been so smooth.
“In response to the UN sustainable development goals [SDGs], France has made great efforts to strengthen the global health sector, through human resource development and funding,” he said.
He added that France supports the training of medical training, with an average of 70 students pursuing specialised studies in France each year.
In addition, the cooperation between French and Cambodian universities, as well as major healthcare institutions, has been fostered. Ra noted that French research institutions worked closely with the Institut Pasteur du Cambodge (IPC), the Research Institute for Development (RID), the National Agency for Research on AIDS and Viral Hepatitis (ANRS/MIE) and the French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD).