The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) celebrated the completion of the follow-up support for the “Project for the Establishment of Preah Ang Duong Eye Hospital” during a handover ceremony on Aug. 16, 2024.
At the event, project completion and appreciation certificates were distributed, marking a significant milestone in the collaborative efforts between KOICA and Preah Ang Duong Hospital to improve public healthcare services, said a press release of KOICA Cambodia Office.
According to the source, the “Cambodia-Korea Friendship Eye Centre” at Preah Ang Duong Hospital was established with support from the Government of the Republic of Korea through KOICA, with a budget of US$5.5 million. This project, which ran from 2011 to 2015, led to the construction of a four-story facility, meticulously designed with specialised rooms on each floor and equipped with advanced medical equipment.
Simultaneously, Kim’s Eye hospital, one of the biggest Eye Hospital of South Korea supported capacity building f
or medical staff with US$2.5 million. Since then, the Eye Centre has been playing a crucial role in preventing blindness, enhancing eye care services, and advancing ophthalmic research. As a result, residents of Phnom Penh and nearby regions have directly benefited from improved eye care services and facilities.
In response to the project’s success, marked by a growing number of patients and increasing needs at Preah Ang Duong Eye Hospital, KOICA allocated an additional US$375,000 for the renovation of the Eye Centre building and the acquisition of advanced medical equipment. This follow-up support, extending from September 2023 to August 2024, is part of KOICA’s continued commitment to the “Project of Establishing an Eye Hospital at Preah Ang Duong Hospital,” ensuring that the facility can meet rising demands and maintain its high standard of care.
During her remarks, Ms. Shin Jungyeon, Senior Deputy Country Director of the KOICA Cambodia Office, emphasised the importance of public health as a cornerstone
of improving the quality of life in Cambodia. She noted that KOICA’s contributions to the health sector total US$89 million, representing 23 percent of the agency’s overall support in Cambodia.
“The Republic of Korea is proud to be a partner and friend of Cambodia,” said Ms. Shin. “We are committed to the sustainable development of this nation and will continue to strengthen our collaborative efforts to ensure access to quality healthcare services for all Cambodians.”
KOICA has notably expanded the scope of treatment in areas that were previously untreatable or inoperable in Cambodia. This includes the establishment of an eye and ENT hospital at Ang Duong Hospital, one of the 11 national hospitals in Phnom Penh. Additionally, KOICA has supported the infrastructure and capacity building of specialised medical personnel at the National Pediatric Hospital through three projects, including the ongoing US$16 million project.
The ceremony concluded with expressions of gratitude to all individuals and organisati
ons involved in the successful completion of the project. KOICA reaffirmed its dedication to the ongoing partnership with Cambodia, aiming to foster closer and more effective cooperation in the years to come.
The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) is a bilateral grant aid agency of the government of the Republic of Korea. Since its opening of the Phnom Penh Office in 2003, the KOICA Cambodia Office has implemented various development cooperation programmes in education, health, and rural development sectors.
Source: Agence Kampuchea Presse