The Cambodian Red Cross (CRC) on June 14 donated $1 million to the Cambodia Kantha Bopha Foundation. The funds were transferred to the Kantha Bopha Children’s Hospital on the same day.
According to the CRC, this is the 5th $1 million donation they have made to the foundation, and the 11th to the hospital.
Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk is the honorary president of the CRC, while Bun Rany Hun Sen serves as president.
CRC secretary-general Pum Chantinie said on the occasion that the hospital has always been a priority in the hearts and minds of the Queen Mother and the president of the organisation.
“The CRC is always thinking of the children of the Kingdom, and helping to assuage the government’s hardships by contributing to the foundation to ensure that the children’s hospital can continue its mission of providing health service to tens of thousands of Cambodian children,” she said.
On the occasion, Chantinie also mentioned the CRC’s fundraising activities on World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day, May 8, and the implementation of the CRC’s humanitarian activities according to the four priority areas of its 2021-2030 strategy.
Ministry of Economy and Finance secretary of state and executive director of the Cambodia Kantha Bopha Foundation Ros Seilava also thanked the CRC for its efforts to seek the support of philanthropists from all walks of life and for its continued contributions to the foundation.
“This action shows the dedication of Bun Rany Hun Sen in promoting the welfare of children, who are the future human resources of Cambodia,” he said.
Seilava also praised the first lady’s commitment and continued efforts to provide long lasting life-saving services to the children of Cambodia.
“The Cambodia Kantha Bopha foundation and the Kantha Bopha Swiss Foundation are also discussing strengthening their cooperation and considering the expansion of hospitals, the installation of modern medical equipment and the provision of new health services to meet the needs of the people,” he said.
The handover ceremony took place at CRC headquarters. Immediately after receiving the funds, the foundation handed it over to the Kantha Bopha Children’s Hospital, which was represented by Denis Laurent, general-director and representative of the Kantha Bopha Swiss Foundation.
Laurent expressed his deep gratitude to Bun Rany Hun Sen for helping the hospital each year since 2012 – 11 times so far – saying the sponsorship was crucial in saving the lives of the many children who were treated at the hospital.
On this year’s World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day, the CRC received a total of more than $16 million in donations and two 12-seater vans, along with rice and much needed drinks.
According to Bun Rany’s June 1 report to the King and the Queen Mother, the CRC has trained nearly 10,000 people in first aid every day.
“The CRC has shown its focus on the health of women, children and people living with HIV by donating $1 million to the Kantha Bopha Children’s hospital and $50,000 to the Angkor Hospital for Children,” she said.
