Japan provided a donation of medical equipment worth more than $260,000 to Krouch Chhmar District Referral Hospital in Tbong Khmum province as part of a project managed by the KUSANONE Foundation.

Minister of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction Chea Sophara and Japanese ambassador Masahiro Mikami accompanied the chairman of the Tbong Khmum Provincial Administration working group on a tour of the facility to meet the staff and inspect construction work underway there and be on hand for the installation of the new equipment.

The hospital, located in Krouch Chhmar commune and district, was first established in 1966 and currently has a total area of 18,182sqm after increases from previous expansion projects.

Mikami said during the visit that his government will provide 17 pieces of medical equipment valued at $262,800 to the hospital.

“This donation has achieved the goal of our project to equip the medical facilities at the hospital and has done so within the framework of the KUSANONE Foundation," he said.

The international medical NGO Heart of Japan has also helped by providing training in surgical skills to medical staff at the hospital.

Mikami said he hopes and believes that the Cambodia-Japan relationship will develop further and the two nations' friendship will continue to grow.

According to an announcement by the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction, the hospital's two newest buildings which will be equipped by this donation are both four storeys tall and will also enable them to provide accommodations for doctors and staff from distant places, such as Japan, who are volunteering at the hospital.

The first new building at the hospital broke ground on construction in July, 2020, while the second building started construction at the end of November 2021.

The two hospital buildings were both donated by Prime Minister Hun Sen and his wife Bun Rany to provide health services to people in nearby provinces.