Great Blessings of Improved Health Care Now Available to Rural Cambodia Communities

Elder Kelly R. Johnson of the Asia area presidency for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and other church officials met with His Excellency Un Chanda, the Governor of Kampong Cham Province, together with other government officials in a handover ceremony, celebrating the completion of the Prey Chhor Referral Hospital and Cheung Prey Referral Hospital.

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The hospital’s new facilities and equipment will help improve public health care services available to 132,000 rural residences in the area of the Prey Chhor Hospital and many more near the Cheung Prey Hospital.  These projects involved the renovation of OB delivery rooms, restrooms, an x-ray suite, and new x-ray equipment. It added a new 2-stall wheelchair-accessible bathroom, a 6-bed oxygen supply, a stormwater diversion system, and hospital equipment. It provided beams and columns to support the main hospital building’s failing roof. Many of the buildings were reroofed, repainted, and received wiring upgrades. The projects also included new parking lots.

Elder Johnson told those in attendance at the ceremony that it was a privilege and a joy to walk around the hospital and see the completed work.  He discussed how members of the Church from around the world feel that it is important to donate money to help people improve their situation and bless communities.  

He said, "We can complete these projects because it is a team effort." He cited an example of working together with the Governor who helped resolve the flooding issues affecting the hospital by immediately installing new drain lines around the property which solved the problem for the hospital and helped the community.

His Excellency, Governor Un Chanda, expressed his appreciation to Elder Johnson for coming to Cambodia and for Dr. Anderson and his wife, who serve as humanitarian missionaries for the Church, responsible for developing the hospital renovation and equipment projects.  The Governor said that he would continue to support the association in its projects to help bless the lives of the poor and needy in the community.  He also thanked the Church for its work in Kampong Cham, in a previous food donation, helping to provide relief for 4,000 families who were victims of earlier flooding.

These projects were made possible with support from government leaders which included the Kampong Cham Governor, H.E. Un Chanda, Vice Governor Srey Sopheak, H.E. Lao Chanly, Vice Governor, and the Director of Health H.E. Kim Sour Phirum.

This project aims to improve the healthcare available for Cambodia's poor and to help follow the teachings of Jesus Christ to care for the poor. It is funded by generous donations from members and friends of the Church which has more than 16 million members worldwide.

The Prey Chhor Hospital project began on May 6, 2022, and was completed on December 9th, 2022.  The new renovations will help 132,000 rural Cambodians by improving the facilities, equipment, and services available to all.

Elder Kelly Johnson, while visiting the Kampong Cham Province, in Cambodia also visited the Cheung Prey Referral Hospital where he participated in a handover and signing ceremony with H.E. Vice Governor Srey Sopheak, H.E. Lao Chanly, Vice Governor,  the Director of Health H.E. Kim Sour Phirum, the hospital director as well as other church officials.  

Though smaller in size, the Cheung Prey Hospital provides renovated facilities and new equipment to improve health care for thousands of poor and needy residents in the area.  A patient at the hospital expressed her appreciation for the hospital and the care she received during the delivery of her beautiful new baby.

Vice Governor Srey Sopheak thanked The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for the contributions made to help the people of Cambodia and looked forward to continued work with the church.