Cambodian Children’s Fund (CCF) announced on Thursday the reopening of Christopher’s Hope Medical Clinic – its community medical clinic – after undergoing extensive renovation.

The hospital, which was established in 2009, is Cambodia’s only fully free medical centre treating people of all ages, CCF said.

Based in Stung Meanchey, the hospital offers healthcare for children, families and community members of some of the most impoverished communities in Cambodia.

The clinic had provided 33,194 treatments and consultations in 2018. It had also arranged for hospital referrals and shouldered the treatment fees for patients with chronic illnesses.

CCF founder and executive director Scott Neeson said: “There are few more destructive forces for the poor families around Stung Meanchey than serious or chronic illnesses.

“A sick parent or child can push a family into debt, break families apart and derail an education.

“The ability to provide comprehensive, quality medical care and the latest technologies and medicines for the people around the former landfill helps keep families together and children in consistent long-term education.”

Christopher’s Hope Medical Clinic was named after Christopher Wolf, who died in 2016 at the age of 32 while on a trip to Cambodia with his mother Cammie Rice and stepfather John Rice.

Both Cammie and John Rice have been long-time supporters of CCF.

“The generosity and long-term commitment of Cammie and John Rice to CCF and communities here is enormously appreciated and a gift that will change the course of so many lives,” CCF said.

Christopher’s Hope Medical Clinic is now able to carry out diagnostic tests on-site rather than referring patients to other hospitals, thus saving time and money.