In October 2001, Cambodia’s healthcare system took a major step forward with the opening of a new maternity hospital in Siem Reap, founded by Swiss pediatrician Dr. Beat Richner.
The hospital was a key component of Dr. Richner’s mission to combat the country’s AIDS crisis, particularly the transmission of HIV from mother to child during birth.
One of the first babies born at the facility was Lim Dina. His birth, photographed with Dr. Richner, featured on the cover of Richner's 2003 book, Hope for the Children of Kantha Bopha.
Nearly 23 years later, Dina’s story stands as a powerful testament to the success of Dr. Richner's vision for healthcare in Cambodia.
His story was shared on September 6 on the Stiftung Kinderspital Kantha Bopha (Kantha Bopha Children's Hospital Foundation) website, which manages and supports a network of children's hospitals in Cambodia.
A maternity hospital with a mission
Dr. Richner's efforts in Cambodia were driven by an urgent need to provide maternal and pediatric care in a country ravaged by disease and poverty.
In the early 2000s, Cambodia faced a severe HIV/AIDS crisis, with an alarming number of newborns at risk of HIV transmission.
“In his book, Richner highlighted the grim reality: every day, three children tested positive for HIV at his hospitals,” according to the website.
To address this, Richner took action by establishing the first maternity ward in Siem Reap province, where HIV testing and preventive measures, such as Caesarean sections and specific treatments for newborns, became standard practice.
"Prevention is necessary," wrote Richner.
His work with pregnant women ensured that thousands of children were born without contracting the virus from their mothers. Dina’s story exemplifies this revolutionary care model.
In October 2001, the new clinic opened in Siem Reap, which Richner speculated was “perhaps the first maternity ward built by a pediatrician”.
At the time, around 3 per cent of pregnant women were carrying HIV.
Every woman, without exception, consented to undergo HIV testing. They all agreed beforehand that if the test came back positive, they would follow a specific treatment plan: medication for the mother during pregnancy, delivery via Caesarean section, weaning the baby and a single dose of medication for the newborn.
"If there is no corruption, if information is provided clearly, in a friendly and professional manner, there will be 100 per cent cooperation from women," wrote Richner in his book.
Lim Dina: Then and now
Dina’s mother, Hy Somonthy, recalls how she chose to give birth at the new maternity hospital on the advice of her friends.
“I felt much safer than at home, and I got help and support,” said the now 45-year-old. For her, the hospital was a symbol of hope and security, and her first child, Dina, was born under the care of Dr. Richner’s team.
Two decades later, the baby from the book cover has grown into a confident young man.
Dina’s life, shaped in part by the opportunities provided by the Kantha Bopha hospital system, has been marked by both education and a commitment to giving back.
“As a schoolboy, he volunteered with the Red Cross, teaching children how to cross streets safely – a mission that was personal to him after a childhood accident in which he fell out of a moving car. Naturally, his care after the accident came from Kantha Bopha Hospital,” according to the foundation’s website.
Today, Dina lives in Phnom Penh, where he studies English and information technology (IT) and works as an assistant at the Ministry of Public Works and Transport.
His aspirations extend beyond Cambodia, with dreams of travelling to Japan and Europe. Yet, despite his global ambitions, Dina remains deeply connected to his roots.
A young Dina with big dreams was quoted on the website as saying, “I would always return to Cambodia – this is my home.”
Kantha Bopha: A legacy of lifesaving care
The Kantha Bopha hospitals, founded by Dr. Richner, continue to serve as a lifeline for millions of Cambodian children.
Since the first hospital opened in 1992, the network has grown to include five hospitals in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, caring for 85 per cent of the country’s sick children.
These hospitals, providing free care, have been instrumental in treating over 22 million children as outpatients and 2.7 million as inpatients, many of whom would have had little chance of survival without the hospitals.
Dr. Richner’s model of healthcare, grounded in transparency, professionalism and a strong ethical foundation, remains as vital today as it was when Dina was born.
The hospitals not only treat the most vulnerable but also serve as a rare source of hope, offering high-quality, corruption-free care in a country where access to healthcare is often limited.
A dream realised, a future ahead
As Dina reflects on his life, it is clear that he carries with him the legacy of Dr. Richner and the life-changing care he received.
His story, once featured on the cover of a book about hope, now embodies resilience, opportunity and ambition.
The Kantha Bopha hospitals continue their work, ensuring that children like Dina have the chance to dream of brighter futures – whether in Cambodia or abroad.
For Dina, one chapter may have ended, but his story, like that of Kantha Bopha, continues to unfold with hope and possibility.