The Sihanouk Hospital Center of Hope has recently received 85 items of advanced medical equipment. This assistance was provided through a Grant from the Office of American Schools and Hospitals abroad (USAID funded). The equipment includes cardiac ultra-sound equipment, C-Arm, Steam Sterilizer, Oxygen Concentrators, Suction pipes, Bedside Patient Monitors, ECG, Vital Sign Monitors, IV pumps, Pill Counters, Defibrillators
The handing over ceremony was presided over by H.E. Dr. MAM BUNHENG, Minister of Health. The occasion was honored by the attendance of Her Excellency Carol Rodley, US Ambassador, Ms. Kate Crawford, Director of Office of Public Health and Education (USAID) and Mr. Dan Liu, Executive Director of SHCH.
The medical equipment provided is expected to support life-saving procedures and improved diagnostic practice within the Hospital’s triage area.
Within his capacity as health care carrier, H. E. Dr. MAM BUNHENG reiterated that while the equipment is very useful and life-saving, this needs to be complimented with warm hospitality and improved provider ethics.
The equipment by itself was insufficient to improve patient care. Counseling and improved communications with patients goes a long way to improve health and early resolution of sickness.
In this regard, H.E. MAM BUNHENG strongly recommended to medical staff to firmly adhere to the professional ethics and abide by the protocols, regulations and policies of the Ministry of Health in order to render quality medical care with quality to the people efficiently and effectively.
H.E. the Minister took the opportunity to express the gratitude/thanks to the Office of American School and Hospital abroad of USAID and the American People who have provided substantial donations to the health sector in the Kingdom of Cambodia.
Inauguration Of The Emergency Building With The Installation Of Medical Equipment In Kratie Referral Hospital (11 June 2009)
The inauguration of the Emergency Building equipped with new medical equipment was conducted on 11 June 2009 in Kratie province (340 km via Snuol). The ceremony was presided over by H.E. Dr. MAM BUNHENG, Minister of Health in the presence of Mr. MITSUKURI Sathosi, First Secretary of the Embassy of Japan to the Kingdom of Cambodia, H.E. Thun Kry, Deputy Governor of Kratie Province and senior health officials.
The Emergency Ward and the installed medical equipment were funded through Japanese KUSANONE Grant Assistance.
In the course of inauguration, H.E. Dr. MAM BUNHENG, also inspected the HIV Pediatric Care and Laboratory Unit which were constructed in July 2008. These units will complement the improved services that will now be available with the construction and equipping of the Emergency Services building at the referral hospital.
In his keynote address, H.E. Dr. MAM BUNHENG called on the local people in the region to utilize the health care services.
He also made an appeal to health care providers of all levels to take care of the patients with high professional ethics.
H.E. Dr. MAM BUNHENG recommended to those who have years of experiences, specifically, skilled midwives to pass on their knowledge and skills to young graduated midwives to maintain the level of medical care capacity thus building the confidence of the people.
It is expected that the newly completed Emergency Ward equipped with new medical equipment will contribute to the improvement of medical services not only in Kratie province but also in the north-east region (Stung Treng, Rattanakiri, Mondulkiri).
Improved Emergency Care services in particular will contribute to reduce mortality and assist in the provision of timely quality medical care to patients in the region.
H.E. Dr. MAM BUNHENG expressed thanks to the Government of Japan and UNICEF for their continued supports.
More pictures:
Boosting Maternal and Child Health Care in Cambodia Is Our Obligation
With Maternal and Child Mortality as the top priority of the Ministry of Health under the Rectangular Strategy of the Royal Government of Cambodia (Phase II), it is necessary that health staff at all levels combine efforts with health development partners to bring about a substantial reduction in mortality rates quickly.
Speaking at the National Maternal and Child Health Center in Phnom Penh on 3 February 2009, H.E. Dr. MAM BUNHENG, Minister of Health called on health care providers to firmly adhere to internal regulations and their professional duties in order to provide the people of Cambodia, especially women and children and their care takers, with high quality of care.
He reiterated that capacity building of medical staff and the deployment of secondary midwives to health centers are the key elements in the MOH’s strategy toward the reduction of maternal and child deaths.
Professor Koum Kanal, Director of the NMCHC, stated that in the month of January 2009, as many as 708 pregnant women delivered their babies at the National Center, resulting in a bed occupancy rate of 89.92% for the 154 beds available, and an average length of stay of 4.17 days. He further said that in 2008, a total of 7,661 deliveries occurred at NMCHC of which 1,242 faced obstetric complications.
During his conversation with the medical staff, H.E. Dr. MAM BUNHENG pointed out the importance of antenatal care, post partum care and new born care, as well as the prevention of HIV/AIDS transmission from mother to child. He added that a Fast Track Initiative has been launched by the MOH to provide pregnant women with opportunities for counseling, early diagnosis and prompt appropriate treatment in this regard.
H.E. the Minister also encouraged medical staff to regularly provide supplements to expectant mothers, such as iron Folate, Vitamin A and tetanus vaccine which are key preventive interventions contributing toward the reduction of mother and child deaths.
The visit of H.E. the Minister to the NMCH Center has demonstrated his high concern for improvements in maternal, newborn and child health care and is expected to further boost community and health care provider motivation to achieve these key Goals.
Additional Pictures:
Cambodia-Korea Friendship Buildings Open In Kampong Chhnang Referral Hospital
Presided over by H.E. Dr. Mam Bunheng, the Minister of Health of the Kingdom of Cambodia, two new health facility buildings within the Kampong Chhnang Referral Hospital consist of an Emergency Building and a HIV Building were inaugurated on 22 January 2009 in Kampong Chhnang province. The buildings were funded by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).
The ceremony was attended by H.E. Shin Hyun suk, the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the Kingdom of Cambodia, H.E. Touch Marim, Provincial Governor, Dr. Chang Hyun Sik, Vice-president of KOICA, senior health officials, medical staff and local people.
The newly built health facilities aim at improving health service delivery and reducing child mortality, improving maternal health and combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases. They contribute the international endeavor to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDG).
In his appeal, H.E. Mam Bunheng strongly recommended to medical staff to firmly adhere to the professional ethics and abide by the protocols, regulations and policies of the Ministry of Health in order to render quality medical care with quality to the people efficiently and effectively.
H.E. the Minister took the opportunity to express the gratitude to the Government of the Republic of Korea and the Korean people for it valuable support to the health sector in the Kingdom of Cambodia.
Kampong Chhnang, situated 91 km from Phnom Penh, has two referral hospitals, Kampong Chhnang and Kampong Tralach with 34 health centers and 3 newly created health posts.
It is expected that the utilization of the hospital will increase thanks to these new facilities which fully equipped with modern equipment. This is therefore considered a major contribution towards achieving quality health care in Cambodia.
Additional Pictures:
The new O Am health center was inaugurated at on opening ceremony presided over by the Minister of Health H.E. Dr. Mam Bunheng on 9 December 2008 with MoH senior officials, donors, NGOs and local communities in attendance. This brings the number of health centers in the province up to 7 and the number of health posts at 17.
The O Am health post (at left) used to serve a limited range services performed by two primary midwives such as immunization, birth spacing, ante-natal care and health education. With the 6 room health center (above), a full minimum package of activities including delivery and emergency care is now provided.
With the other 6 health centers and 17 health posts located in remote areas with in-accessible trails in the rainy season, malaria, tuberculosis and other communicable diseases remain major health problems in the tribal communities. The Ministry of Health currently has a program that extends its coverage to predominantly ethnic minority provinces such as Mondolkiri, Rattanakiri.
By extending the health network, the program is envisioned to have a positive impact on the health status of ethnic minorities who live in remote areas with limited access to health services.
Moving forward toward to safeguard the most vulnerable women, children and the poor in the remotest communities is our obligation in this Mandate.
Additional Pictures:
