K Bopha hospital donations up 13 per cent in 2023

CAMBODIA Kantha Bopha Foundation was able to raise around $21.08 million from various sources in 2023, an increase of 13 per cent over the 2022 figures, according to a press release from the foundation’s Board of Trustees.

According to the release, seen by The Post on February 26, the sources of the 2023 income included government donations and the proceeds of ticket sales at the Angkor Archaeological Park, as well as contributions from donors.

The foundation now has a total of 271,702 members, and transferred about $3.58 million to the Kantha Bopha hospitals. In 2023, Kantha Bopha hospitals in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap province spent around $40.715 million on examining and treating newborns, infants and pregnant women, for free.

Minister of Economy and Finance Aun Pornmoniroth, who chairs the board, shared his appreciation for the professional work of the foundation.

“In order to ensure the sustainability of the hospitals, I am calling for more donations, in the spirit of Khmer helping Khmer. People’s contributions will not only save millions of Cambodian children’s lives, but will build a sense of solidarity in society,” he said.

The press release explained that the foundation will continue to call for donations from its current members, as well as through other fundraising activities.

Nuth Sambath, president of the Institute of Medicine, Biology and Agriculture of the Royal Academy of Cambodia, supported the efforts of the minister and the Cambodian government to make sure the hospitals remain sustainable.

“Continued support for the work of the Kantha Bopha hospital through the foundation is of great importance. These hospitals have set an example for others to follow, through the dedication to saving children’s lives displayed by their officials and staff,” he said.

“This is why I suggest that more and more support be found for the foundation, and call for donors to continue to contribute whenever they can,” he added.

In 2023, the Kantha Bopha hospitals in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap province had provided 899,692 consultations and admitted 184,055 patients.