ដើម្បីអានជាភាសាខ្មែរ សូមចុច នៅទីនេះ
Four important hospital and health center projects, and one school project, all donated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, were recently completed in Cambodia. The projects are improving health outcomes for thousands of residents in Phnom Penh province and two rural provinces northeast of Phnom Penh.
The health projects are part of the Church’s ambitious Cambodia Health Improvement Effort, which has provided major infrastructure and equipment donations for dozens of healthcare facilities in Cambodia over several years.
Recent “handover” celebrations were held at the new and refurbished facilities, including the Choeung Ek Health Center in Phnom Penh province; the Kampong Cham Provincial Hospital; and the Chalk Health Center and Reang Ov District Hospital, both in the rural Tbong Khmum province close to the Vietnam border. The school project was in Thmar Koul district in Battambang province.
The projects have made an immediate health and life-saving impact, especially for poor people who make up the majority of patients in these rural areas. All of the projects were overseen by Church humanitarian staff and missionaries, in collaboration with local government, healthcare and education officials.
Choeung Ek Health Center. This project upgraded medical equipment and renovated the 12-room health center in Dangkor district, which serves one commune, 12 villages and more than 14,000 residents. It averages nearly 3,000 outpatient days annually, along with more than 130 baby deliveries.
At a ceremony on July 11, 2025, the modern new facility was handed over to leaders of the Phnom Penh Municipal Heath Department under the chairmanship of Mr. Omran Hassan, Deputy Governor of Phnom Penh. Khuong Seng and Ngy Meanheng, directors of the Phnom Penh Department of Health, presided at the ceremony.
Many other government, community and healthcare leaders attended the ceremony. Reath Chansophea, Welfare and Self-Reliance Manager/Legal Representative and Yorn Sopaneth, Welfare and Self-Reliance Project Manager represented the Association of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The old campus, although a busy health center, was small and dilapidated with aging infrastructure and insufficient medical equipment. The main building, constructed of wood, was badly damaged by termites, leaked during rainstorms, and flooded regularly during the monsoon season.
Church humanitarian missionaries, collaborating with the Phnom Penh Health Department, oversaw the campus reconstruction and installation of an extensive drainage system. Improvements included structural repairs to walls, ceilings, flooring, windows and doors; sanitation and electrical system upgrades; improved ventilation systems; expanded examination and maternal facilities; and upgrades to a room for minor surgeries.
The project also included a significant contribution of modern medical equipment needed to operate the health center.
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Government officials and health leaders, with hospital personnel and Church humanitarian staff, view a room in the new maternity ward with a woman patient and her husband on July 15, 2025. The Church rebuilt the health center and donated medical equipment. © 2025 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.At the handover, Dr. Ngy expressed appreciation to the Church for the project, and also for the many other Church projects in the city’s eight referral hospitals and several health centers. He noted the Church provided eight ultrasound machines to the health centers to improve health outcomes.
He called the Church support an “indispensable factor” in the progress of the health sector in Cambodia, helping the country achieve better health equity and quality for all citizens.
On behalf of the Capital Administration, Mr. Hassan also expressed his deep gratitude to the Church for donating a new building, improving infrastructure, and providing equipment and materials to the health center.
On behalf of the Church, Brother Reath thanked the government officials and healthcare leaders for the opportunity to bless the lives of the Cambodia people. He said members of the Church are taught to love God and love our neighbors. Humanitarian contributions are made possible by donations from Church members all over the world.
Kampong Cham Provincial Hospital (KCPH). This hospital is the primary referral hospital for the province of 1.2 million citizens. A new maternal newborn building was earlier constructed on the hospital campus, but new and updated equipment was needed for the maternity center.
With the hospital maternity ward delivering 15 to 20 babies per day, totaling between 6,000 and 7,000 per year, the old newborn ICU and maternity facilities were stretched far beyond capacity. Beds for laboring mothers were placed in hallways near the delivery suite.
The hospital and provincial health department asked the Church to provide modern equipment to care for newborn infants in the new facility. Because high risk pregnancies are referred to KCPH, specialized equipment was necessary to properly care for sick babies. The handover celebration was held on July 15, 2025.
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Mr. Kimsour Phirum, Kampong Cham Provincial Health Department Director, along with hospital officials and humanitarian missionaries view maternity ward equipment donated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at a “handover” celebration at the Kampong Cham Provincial Hospital on July 15, 22025. At left is Brother Chansophea Reath, representing the Church.© 2025 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.The Church has a long-standing relationship with the Kampong Cham Provincial Health Department and the Provincial Hospital, having recently completed a back-up generator and electrical upgrade project. Equipment was also donated for newly renovated operating rooms, and a Church-sponsored laparoscopic surgery training program is ongoing.
In addition, an Essential Newborn Care 1 training developed by the World Health Organization was completed for medical personnel from KCPH, as well as personnel from 10 district hospitals in the province. Basic supplies and equipment have been provided to continue this training into the future.
“Our project was very timely for a vulnerable population of high-risk mothers and their premature babies,” said Elder Mark Earnshaw, a humanitarian senior missionary who helped oversee the project. “As we toured the finished facility, which was full of patients, we were overwhelmed with the outpouring of gratitude expressed by staff and patient families.”
One grandmother hugged humanitarian senior missionary Sister Marvel Earnshaw with tears in her eyes, thanking her and the Church for helping her premature granddaughter. The baby weighed only 1.3 kilograms (2.8 pounds) when born and was unable to breathe on her own. Without the modern, life-saving equipment, the baby would not have survived, her grandmother said.
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Nurses, doctors, government and health officials gather with Church humanitarian missionaries and leaders on July 15, 2025, to celebrate the opening of the Chalk Health Center after extensive renovations.© 2025 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.Chalk Health Center. During the monsoon season, the Chalk Health Center has flooded almost every year. The Church project extensively renovated the health center, raising the floor level by 1.5 meters to prevent flooding. New walls and a new roof were installed. Medical equipment essential for good health care was also donated.
The 27-year-old health center in rural Tbong Khmum province serves 15 villages with 12,600 residents. It is staffed by one doctor, four midwives and eight nurses. Some 30 to 40 patients are seen each day for basic healthcare and eight to10 babies are delivered each month.
During the July 15, 2025, handover celebration, humanitarian senior missionary Elder Barry Oates explained that some of the project funds came from fast offerings donated by Church members. Commune Chief Neang Bunna said in his speech that he would like to implement a fast in his commune to support the poor.
Provincial Deputy Health Director Phol Punloeu and other officials thanked the Church for providing a safe, clean facility that will bless the lives of citizens in the Chalk district and in the surrounding villages. They said the building is now a center of community pride.
Elder Earnshaw said, "The Staff keeps sending us pictures each time a babe is born.
Ou Reang Ov District Hospital. This hospital in Tbong Khmum province has 80 beds and serves about 100,000 residents. It was built in 1989 and was identified by Deputy Health Director Phol Punloeu and other officials as one of the facilities in the province needing the most help.
Because the hospital lacked necessary medical and surgical equipment, doctors could perform only minor surgeries, and many health conditions could not be diagnosed and treated. Despite many babies being born, C-sections could not be performed. Training for midwives, nurses and doctors was also needed for some procedures.
The hospital was also severely crowded, lacking sufficient space for the number of patients being seen. Water damage occurred during the rainy season, with flooding of some hospital rooms. The health director asked for help upgrading the hospital and providing space and equipment so complex surgeries could be performed, including C-sections.
The Church donated a variety of equipment and supplies, including patient and fetal monitors, lab equipment, an ultrasound machine, and imaging equipment.
Renovations and new facilities constructed were extensive, including patient care areas, in-patient wards and the hospital emergency room, all with improved drainage and flood control. Training was provided for emergency physicians and midwives. The building renovations and equipment donations have prepared the hospital to be upgraded to a Level 2 facility and accommodate additional staff.
At the July 15, 2025, handover, hospital and government officials expressed deep gratitude for the help of the Church. District Deputy Chief Soy Rotha said human development through good health care improves all aspects of life.
In his speech representing the Church, Brother Reath said, “We are a Christian Church, but we want to help regardless of race, religion or region. We want everyone to have good health so they can improve their lives and their communities.”
Phum Spean Primary School. Another project handover ceremony was held on July 4, 2025, at the newly rebuilt Phum Spean Primary School in the Thmar Koul district in the Battambang province. The project included constructing a new brick school building, new bathrooms and an incinerator. Flood control work was also performed to prevent water incursions during the rainy season.
Construction began in December 2024, with the removal of the old wooden building. New footings and foundation were poured shortly thereafter and the brickwork began.
At the handover, school principal Nem Non gave a report about the project, followed by comments from the district director of the Office of Education, Youth and Sports, and the governor of the Thmar Koul district. All of them thanked the Church and letters of appreciation and commemorative photos were presented to Church representatives.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has participated in hundreds of humanitarian projects all across Cambodia as part of its commitment to support self-reliance and dignity among all people. In all the projects, the Church works with local leaders to identify needs and deliver high-quality, lasting solutions.