Church of Jesus Christ donates healthcare buildings to two Cambodian hospitals for free

Cambodia on Thursday celebrated the opening of two major healthcare facilities funded by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, including the country’s first provincial heart center in Siem Reap and a modern outpatient building at Preah Net Preah Referral Hospital in Banteay Meanchey Province. Hundreds of government officials, healthcare workers, schoolchildren and residents attended the ceremonies, which were marked by traditional Khmer performances, colorful decorations, and a red carpet welcome.

Cambodia’s Health Minister, Chheang Ra, presided over the events and praised the Church for its humanitarian work. He described the Siem Reap Heart Center, which cost more than $2.4 million, as “worth far more than its price tag” for the lives it will save. “The Church has a talent for identifying needs and providing help in the right place,” he said, noting that heart patients in the region previously had to travel about five hours to Phnom Penh for treatment, with many not surviving the journey.

The Siem Reap Heart Center is the Church’s largest humanitarian project in Cambodia to date. It features a full cardiac catheterization laboratory, the first outside the capital, enabling doctors to perform advanced, life-saving procedures. Dr. Pen Phalkun, the hospital director, said the center is “game-changing” for northern Cambodia and will provide both patient care and training opportunities for medical students.

The new outpatient building at Preah Net Preah Referral Hospital replaces an outdated facility and includes a full dental clinic, laboratory, pharmacy, pediatric ward, intensive care unit, psychiatry and operating rooms, and diagnostic equipment including X-ray, ultrasound and EKG machines. Oum Reatrey, the provincial governor, said the donation would improve healthcare access for local residents and strengthen the hospital’s ability to serve the community.

Elder Benjamin M.Z. Tai, Asia Area President of the Church, spoke at both events, invoking blessings for patients and staff and expressing gratitude for the worldwide members whose donations made the projects possible. “This is a direct answer to prayers and a realization of our hope and faith,” he said, highlighting the Church’s commitment to humanitarian service.