KOICA Upgrades Well-Equipped Neonatal Ward for Kampong Cham Referral Hospital (English Version)

News Release

Local newspaper: Raksmei Kampuchea Daily Newspaper, volume: 4950, year: 17

Contact: 023 224605

Date of release: Sunday-Monday, July 19-20, 2009

KOICA Upgrades Well-Equipped Neonatal Ward for Kampong Cham Referral Hospital

Kampong Cham: Kampong Cham Hospital inaugurated a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit project supported by Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) of the Republic of Korea in the morning of Thursday July 16, 2009. The ceremony was presided over by Mr. Kim Sour Phi Run, director of Kampong Cham Provincial Health Department and Mr. Son Sung Il, Deputy Representative of Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) office in Cambodia.

According Mr. Meas Chea, director of the Kampong Cham hospital, the project costs 110,000 USD and was implemented by a voluntary Korean doctor in cooperation with hospital’s Cambodian medical officials to upgrade the neonatal ward by equipping necessary medical materials for newly born infants who are premature or born with asphyxia, infection or other problems that need intensive care shortly after their delivery. Together with this neonatal ward upgrading, Korean doctor has also provided training and exchanged experience with related Khmer medical officials on neonatal decease and perinatal management, and the way to properly use the medical equipments to ensure that Khmer staff can continue the activities by themselves after the Korean doctor’s mandate.

The director added that, in 2005, child mortality rate in Kampong Cham province was 35/1000, a quite high rate compared to national child mortality rate of only 26/1000. Therefore, this KOICA’s support really helps the hospital to reduce child mortality and make the delivery at the hospital safer and the mothers don’t need to go to Phnom Penh or other places for their deliveries. As the project’s outcome during the first 5 month of 2009, the mortality rate at Kampong Cham Hospital is only 14% for the newly born infants who have health problem.

KOICA, according to Mr. Son Sung Il, has been cooperating with the Royal Government of Cambodia to achieve the Millennium Development Goals for reducing infant mortality, promoting maternal health, and reducing HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases through strengthening the health infrastructure and the capacity of medical service providers. This is one of the many achievements done by Korean volunteers who have been dispatched to work for governmental institutions in Cambodia as part of the development cooperation assistance. Recently, a team of 10 KOVs have just arrived in Cambodia, including 2 doctors, and there will be 2 more KOV teams with different working field to come to Cambodia in this 2009.

He added that the Republic of Korea, even though affected by world economic crisis, will try to maintain significant support to Cambodian people. He believe that the recent summit between the two countries’ leaders will strengthen the relationship between the Kingdom of Cambodia and the Republic of Korea, and as the result, extend KOICA activities for the purpose of socio-economic development in Cambodia.