Ra calls for Angkor Hospital support
MINISTER of Health Chheang Ra has urged philanthropic donors to continue supporting the independent, non-profit Angkor Hospital for Children (AHC) in Siem Reap. The aim is to bolster government efforts to improve the well-being of Cambodian children, as the hospital treats upwards of 150,000 children annually.
Ra’s call was made during a meeting with AHC founder Kenro Izu and its board of directors at the Ministry of Health in Phnom Penh on February 22, according to an update posted to the ministry’s official social media page.
During the meeting, Izu outlined AHC’s mission, which includes providing highquality healthcare, training and internships for medical students, and delivering health education and newborn care training to the community.
“I would like to seek guidance from minister Ra to enhance the hospital’s efficiency and ensure sustainable delivery of services,” he said.
Ra thanked AHC for their longstanding collaboration with the ministry, and acknowledged their dedication to providing free, quality healthcare to children, particularly those from underprivileged backgrounds.
He also offered specific recommendations to the hospital’s board to help them achieve more sustainable and prosperous management practices.
“The ministry actively supports AHC’s operation and urges donors to continue their support. This contribution aligns with the ministry and government’s efforts to enhance the well-being of children and achieve global health coverage in line with the government’s Pentagonal Strategy,” he said.
Nuth Sambath, president of the Institute of Medicine, Biology and Agriculture at the Royal Academy of Cambodia, said AHC has played a vital role in providing care and treatment to children, and described the hospital as an exemplary humanitarian institution.
“The medical staff there have saved many children, prompting me to encourage the government to maintain good relations with the hospital,” he said.
According to a recent annual report by AHC, since opening in 1999, the hospital has treated a total of 2.7 million cases, of which more than 100,000 children per year received care.
These services cover a range of needs including treatment for general diseases and seriously ill infants, emergency and critical care for children, optometry services, dental check-ups, nutrition programmes, health education, medical and microbiological laboratories, as well as treatments for cataracts and leukaemia.