Phnom Penh (FN), Nov. 24 – Kantha Bopha Foundation in Cambodia has donated over USD 10 million to Kantha Bopha Children’s Hospital, according to the foundation's press release dated Sunday.

"In the 11 months of 2019, the Kantha Bopha Foundation in Cambodia is proud to donate USD 10.8 million to the hospital in order to continue the hospital's operation and bring smiles to Cambodian children, the bright future of Cambodia," the press release said.

The donation was handed to the hospital on 21 November 2019.

Kantha Bopha Foundation in Cambodia would like to express their deepest gratitude to the generosity of donors for contributing to the Foundation.

There is already a Kantha Bopha Foundation in Zurich, Switzerland, established in 1991 by Swiss Dr. Beat Richner, which has raised money for years to cover the USD 42 million in annual costs to operate the hospitals.

Since 1991, five children’s hospitals have been established where children are provided with the necessary medical care free of charge. The hospital also provides preventative health and social care through education, as well as giving safe sex and family planning advice.

The Kantha Bopha Foundation in Cambodia was created in 2018 amid concerns that donations from Switzerland, which has supported the hospitals, could dwindle with the absence of the hospitals’ founder Dr Beat Richner.

Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen said he will personally contribute USD 50,000 to the foundation each year for the next five years starting from April 2018. Additionally, he said, the government will contribute USD 10 million annually for the operation of the hospitals and USD 5 million to the foundation.

Since 1992, the Kantha Bopha Children's Hospital has served nearly 18 million children, according to Dr Denis Laurent, Kantha Bopha’s deputy director.
=FRESH NEWS