Seventy-one children have undergone successful heart operations and interventional catheterisation at the Kantha Bopha Children’s hospitals in Siem Reap province and Phnom Penh in March, the hospital said in its monthly report.

Over the same period, 165 children were hospitalised for dengue hemorrhagic fever, while 1,889 underwent general surgeries.

The report, dated March 25, said the hospitals had received children and women in labour.

It said 57,097 sick children were treated as outpatients, while 10,589 were inpatients.

The report said 11,183 pregnant women were examined and treated in the outpatient units of the Jayavarman VII (Kantha Bopha III) hospital’s maternity ward in Siem Reap, while 1,782 women had deliveries.

Kantha Bopha officials declined to comment further on the report, which said all treatment and deliveries were free and commended the hospitals’ 2,500 health workers for their professional services.

The Kantha Bopha Children’s hospitals have also called on people to protect their children from coronavirus infections by adhering to good hygiene practises and following the instructions announced by the relevant authorities.

Pak Sok Khim, a 37-year-old mother from Takeo province, said she had taken her four-year-old son to the Kantha Bopha Children’s hospital in Phnom Penh for dengue fever earlier this month.

She said her son had since recovered after receiving treatment and medication. “When I took my child to the hospital, I had to wait in a queue to be called in before we could receive consultation and care.

“I was very worried about my child as he had a high temperature and gasped for air. But I was told not to panic. The doctor later told me that my child was fine, I felt so relieved.

“Without Kantha Bopha, I don’t know what my son’s conditions would be like,” she said.