Cambodia's Kampong Thom Province Celebrates Major Renovation of Three Hospitals (ខេត្តកំពង់ធំ ប្រារព្ធពិធីការជួសជុលផ្នែកសំខាន់ៗនៃមន្ទីរពេទ្យ ចំនួន ៣ កន្លែង នៅប្រទេសកម្ពុជា)

ដើម្បីអានជាភាសាខ្មែរ សូមចុច នៅទីនេះ

On March 11, 2024, the Kampong Thom provincial government organized a handover ceremony to commemorate the completion of major renovation projects at Kampong Thom Provincial Hospital, Baray Santuk Referral Hospital, and Stoung Referral Hospital. The projects were funded and managed by The Association of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Cambodia as part of the Church's Cambodia Health Improvement Effort (CHIE). 

The ceremony, organized at Kampong Thom Provincial Hospital, was attended by His Excellency Nhek Ban Kheng, Deputy Governor of Kampong Thom; Elder Kelly R. Johnson of the Asia Area Presidency of the Church; Dr. Srey Sin, Director of the Health Department in Kampong Thom; ten leaders of congregations of the Church in the province; hospital administrators and staff; humanitarian missionaries and medical specialists from the Church; and over 100 members of the public. 

Dr. Sin described the nature and scope of the projects, which included renovating and expanding over 40 buildings across the three hospitals, resolving flooding issues, providing essential medical equipment, and offering training to medical staff. The wide variety of modern medical equipment provided ranged from oxygen delivery systems, maternity, gastroenterology, dental, orthopedic, and ophthalmology equipment to operating room supplies and diagnostic laboratory equipment. Together, these improvements have significantly transformed the scope and quality of patient care at the hospitals. 

Elder Johnson expressed gratitude for the generosity of Church members worldwide, stating, "The money for these projects comes from our members all over the world who choose to regularly fast for two meals and contribute the value of those meals to help those in need." He also noted the presence of local church leaders at the ceremony, adding, "We are all brothers and sisters. We want to do good things. We follow our Savior's charge to love our neighbors as we love ourselves." 

HE Nhek Ban Kheng, Deputy Governor of Kampong Thom, acknowledged the love and support from the Church, saying, "We are all brothers and sisters, helping one another. We feel the love from the Church. The renovated buildings are beautiful, and the patients are happy to receive care here. The hospitals are now cleaner and have better hygiene." 

At the end of the ceremony, the deputy governor presented Elder Johnson with an official certificate of appreciation. The dignitaries and hospital administrators then visited the newly renovated intensive care unit to offer comfort to the patients receiving care there. 

The Church's efforts to renovate and improve these hospitals in Kampong Thom province reflect the compassion and mercy that Jesus Christ exemplified during His earthly ministry. As recorded in the Book of Mormon, when Jesus visited the Nephites, he said, "Have ye any that are sick among you? Bring them hither. Have ye any that are lame, or blind, or halt, or maimed, or leprous, or that are withered, or that are deaf, or that are afflicted in any manner? Bring them hither and I will heal them, for I have compassion upon you; my bowels are filled with mercy." (3 Nephi 17:7). In a similar spirit of love and concern for the suffering, the Church has undertaken these projects to bless the lives of those in need. 

The renovation of these three hospitals in Kampong Thom province is part of the Church's Cambodia Health Improvement Effort (CHIE), a new approach to improving health care and providing humanitarian aid for Cambodia's people. Working in collaboration with government and healthcare leaders, CHIE provides training, equipment, and construction projects. The program was initiated in 2018 by the Asia Area Presidency of the Church. 

This project's completion is especially meaningful as it occurs during the 30th anniversary year of the Church being officially recognized in the Kingdom of Cambodia. The Church remains committed to serving and supporting the people of Cambodia through humanitarian efforts and spiritual outreach.