Cambodia Health Minister Opens Major Healthcare Facilities Donated by Church of Jesus Christ 
មណ្ឌលសុខភាពសំខាន់ៗដែលសាសនាចក្របានបរិច្ចាគ បានប្រារព្ធអបអរនៅភាគខាងជើងនៃប្រទេសកម្ពុជា

ដើម្បីអានជាភាសាខ្មែរ សូមចុច នៅទីនេះ

Hundreds of Cambodian leaders and citizens recently gathered under large, colorful tents, shaded from the searing tropical sun, to celebrate the openings of two large healthcare projects donated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The new state-of-the-art heart center at Siem Reap Provincial Referral Hospital was inaugurated on the morning of February 26, 2026. Later that afternoon, another Church-funded facility was celebrated: a new outpatient building at Preah Net Preah Referral Hospital in Banteay Meanchey province, about an hour northwest of Siem Reap.

Cambodia’s Minister of Health, His Excellency Professor Chheang Ra, presided over and spoke at both events before the assembly of government and healthcare officials, doctors, nurses, citizens and schoolchildren. In comments throughout the day, he thanked members of the Church for their generosity, noting the many healthcare projects the Church has supported in Cambodia.

“I express my sincere appreciation for the help that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has given, without expecting anything in return,” he said, adding that the Siem Reap Heart Center is worth much more than the over US$2.4 million cost of the new building and modern equipment due to its immeasurable long-term value for treating and saving lives.

“As an individual, a citizen, a health worker, a health leader, and the head of a health institution, the contribution of the members, no matter how small, truly touches the heart of the users, the citizens and especially those who need help,” he continued.

Health Minister Chheang Ra commended the Church’s “talent for seeing and providing help to meet needs, in the right place and with the right group of people, to save the lives of our Cambodian people.” This enabled the Church to align with the ministry and government’s goals of bringing quality health services closer to the people.  

“Partnership with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a special kind of experience that we can take as a model,” he added. “I plead to continue it further.” 

Elder Benjamin M.Z. Tai, Asia Area President of the Church, was invited to speak at both events. In his Siem Reap remarks, he recalled the center’s groundbreaking held about a year ago wherein they were “united by love of our fellow men.” He declared the new facility a “direct answer to prayers and a realization of our hope and faith.”

At both locations, Elder Tai invoked God’s blessings upon all who came to the facilities, stating, “May all patients always find professional treatment, compassionate service and charitable care here. May this become a place of healing of hearts and comforting of souls. We have tremendous faith in and the greatest hopes for you and the future of this facility.”

The Siem Reap project is special, he said, because it addresses critical medical care needs far outside the capital, Phnom Penh. He shared that the project “took us on a journey” of consultation with government leaders and health professionals, culminating in a meeting in January 2024 between Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Elder Dale G. Renlund, a member of the Church’s Quorum of Twelve Apostles and a heart surgeon himself. They discussed the importance of this project and a commitment was made to build it.

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Elder Tai also paid tribute to “the faith, devotion, dedication and generosity of members of the Church across the world”, which make humanitarian donations possible. “Regardless of how much they donate, whether a penny, a dollar or millions of dollars, humanitarian funds are treated carefully and used for the divine purposes of the Lord’s work. We’re so grateful for the faith and devotion of those members who make this possible.”

He told the audiences that he wishes “members of our Church from all over the world could be here today. I wish you could meet them and they could meet you.” He said the Church donors are “people like you and I who freely give what they can to help others without any expectation of anything in return. I am confident that they would feel very pleased to know that they are supporting this important work that is happening here.” 

The Siem Reap Heart Center is the Church’s largest humanitarian project in Cambodia to date. Speakers noted that the project was especially important because heart patients had previously had to travel for around 5 hours to Phnom Penh for treatment. Many patients with heart emergencies did not survive the trip. Heart disease is the second leading cause of death in Cambodia.

Siem Reap is also a renowned tourist destination, hosting millions of visitors every year who visit Angkor Wat and the area’s other ancient temples. Healthcare needs, including heart services, are magnified by the number of tourists. Ample opportunities for learning will be provided for medical students in the northern region now, besides the capital.

“Mortality has been high in our region for patients with heart disease, but now, we have excellent infrastructure to treat patients with everything they need right here,” said Dr. Pen Phalkun, director of the Siem Reap hospital. “It is truly game-changing.” 

The new heart center is equipped with a full cardiac catheterization laboratory, the first in the country outside of Phnom Penh. It allows doctors to more precisely detect heart problems and perform life-saving procedures.

“This equipment will save many lives,” said Dr. Pen. “It is transforming heart care in our region.”

Dr. Pen said it was a pleasure to work with the Church humanitarian team on the project. “They are very collaborative and they want top-quality equipment and construction and long-term sustainability. This center will serve our community for many years.”

District President Loy Bunseak, the presiding Church leader in northern Cambodia, attended the Siem Reap celebration. He said the Cambodian members in the Siem Reap district are pleased and grateful that their Church can provide such meaningful humanitarian service in their community.

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At the Preah Net Preah Referral Hospital in Bantheay Meanchey province, the outpatient building badly needed renovation. It was very old, too small to accommodate the growing number of patients, exposed to flooding during the rainy season and infested with termites. Much of the equipment, such as the X-ray machine, was in poor condition.

The newly gifted building includes all departments and necessary equipment, including reception, waiting, and registration areas; pharmacy; complete laboratory; examination rooms; pediatric ward; dental clinic; intensive care unit; psychiatry; operating and postoperative rooms; X-ray, ultrasound and EKG equipment, and more.

“We have earned the trust of the Church association as we provide excellent health services to our people,” said Bantheay Meanchey Provincial Governor, His Excellency Oum Reatrey. He noted that the Church previously funded renovations of the main hospital building. Since then, it has been ranked among the best referral hospitals in Cambodia.

Celebrations at both events were major community occasions staged with pomp and pageantry. They showcased Khmer culture, with flags, flowers, colorful decorations and red carpets on display, and many dignitaries in attendance, along with schoolchildren and Junior Red Cross groups. A traditional Khmer “Blessing Dance” was performed by young women in cultural dress, accompanied by a pinpeat, the traditional musical ensemble featuring musicians chanting and playing drums, xylophones, gongs, wind instruments and small cymbals.

After the ceremonies, the dignitaries were presented with certificates of appreciation and tours of the new facilities commenced. With great pride and appreciation, hospital directors and doctors showed off the new equipment, patient rooms, operating rooms, intensive care units and facilities and equipment necessary for modern hospitals.

Church humanitarian senior missionaries said that, generally, medical staff are so pleased and proud of their new facilities and modern equipment that they take very good care of them.

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