On September 20, 2024, the Association of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints turned over a much-needed donation of surgical equipment to the Smile Cambodia Surgical Mission of the Khmer-Soviet Friendship Hospital in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. In attendance were Smile Cambodia Executive Director Chan Kok Choy, Surgeon Dr. Nous Sarom, Board Member Jack Lee and Medilite Supervisor Phon Bora, amongst other hospital and supplier personnel. From the Association, Vice President Yorn Sophaneth, Phnom Penh Cambodia South Stake President Phornn Ul, and full-time Church volunteer couples Elder Neal and Sister Carol Ann Clinger and Elder Kimball and Sister Susan Harris were present.
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Photo taken during the handover ceremony of donated surgical equipment from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to Smile Cambodia Surgical Mission on September 20, 2024 in Khmer-Soviet Friendship Hospital in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.© 2024 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.Smile Cambodia is a fully volunteer-based organization that provides free treatment to patients with conditions such as cleft lip, cleft palate and other facial deformities. Besides surgical treatments, their support includes meals for patients and families, follow-up care, and speech therapy. As a part of Smile Asia, they provide these services to patients in Phnom Penh, Cambodian Provinces, and Asia. Director Chan shared that over 5,400 surgeries have been performed by Smile Cambodia to date.
Director Chan said, “We are so grateful for the support of the Association to bring these much-needed services to Cambodia and Asia.” Chan explained that when the surgical equipment is not being used by Smile Cambodia, it will be available for use by other surgical departments in the hospital.
Dr. Nous Sarom explained the use of each of the pieces of equipment and how important they are for keeping the patients safe. He shared that some of the new equipment will replace older equipment that needed to be phased out and will also provide much needed new surgical capabilities that will improve patient care.
Yorn Sophaneth thanked Smile Cambodia for the opportunity to provide them support. She explained, “We believe we are all children of God and brothers and sisters. These donations are possible because of donations from the members of the Association who fast two meals and donate the cost of those meals to help others throughout the world.” Elder Clinger said, “We are all united in helping the children of Cambodia along with the Smile Cambodia mission.”
The donated equipment includes three suction machines, one defibrillator, two patient monitors, two anesthesia machines, and one cautery electrosurgery unit. The collaboration between the Association and Smile Cambodia will help keep the smiles on the faces of children from the area radiant for years to come as the latter continues its mission to correct cleft conditions and other facial deformities with this new equipment.
