Kantha Bopha

These holidays I went to Siem Reap in Cambodia, which was a truly amazing experience. First I visited all the temples at Angkor; seeing the richness and resplendent ancient history. It is hard to believe that now Cambodia is one of the poorest countries in the world, who have- since days of elaborate temples- have experienced horrific circumstances in this past century alone.

On one of the last nights I spent at Siem Reap, I attended a charity concert, performed by 'Beatocello,' raising donations for the Kantha Bopha Children's Hospitals. Between each piece of music, statistics were told, two of which I made an effort in remembering:

• An average farmer earns USD$240 a year in which they have to support their family and extended family
• Around 65% of the population have tuberculosis

Beat Richner (aka 'Beatocello') was born in Zurich in 1947 and specialised in paediatrics there until 1974 when he was sent to Cambodia by the Red Cross to work at Kantha Bopha Children's Hospital. But he was forced to return home when the Khmer Rouge invaded. For those who aren't aware who the Khmer Rouge were, they were an organisation responsible for orchestrating the Cambodian Genocide. Pol Pot, who believed that the Cambodian people must begin again in 'year one,'  led the merciless slaughter to those considered "enemies." It was a truly atrocious period of history that has scarred the landscape of this beautiful country; even to this day landmines are still being found. The Khmer Rouge dissolved in 1999.

In 1991, Beat Richner was asked by the Cambodian government to rebuild the hospital in Phnom Penh, and since then he has overseen the development of four more hospitals in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, the most recent built in Phnom Penh in 2007. For further information about the hospitals, the official Kantha Bopha website is at the bottom of this post.

While at the concert, the audience was shown a film about the hospital, it's history and how they help thousands of children a year, running solely on donations. Beat Richner emphasised that the organisation- which is outside of government control, so it is private- is free from corruption and is a place of justice and integrity, with the aim to treat all children who seek their services. 

Here are some statistics that are on the website, which I thought were really interesting and really inspired me to try and help:

• 687 083 sick children were treated in the outpatient station

• 119 945 severely sick children had to be admitted for hospitalisation

• 16 749 surgical operations were done

• 110 616 pregnant women were controlled in the outpatient station at the maternity unit in Siem Reap

• 17 747 deliveries occurred at the maternity unit in Siem Reap

• Staff is doing every day one heart operation and one invasive heart catheter. So in 2014 at least 600 children suffering from a heart malformation will be cured

• Cambodian staff now can do neurosurgical operations by themselves too, that means the delicate extirpations of so many brain tumors. (In 2013: 464 neurosurgical operations)

• 2013 had to hospitalize 11 505 severe cases of the Hemorrhagic Dengue Fever (HDF). (2012 there were 29 000 severe cases of HDF to be hospitalised.)

• 11 505 severe cases of HDF in 2013. The hope is that in 2014 all the families from all over the country are getting Abate, in order to treat the clean water around the houses. In 2013 only 30% of the families have got the Abate.

• In 2013 440 small infants have to be hospitalized suffering from cerebral hemorrhagic. This severe disease could be prevented. Vitamin K would be given to the newborns. 

Kantha Bopha have saved millions of children's lives that would not have survived without sufficient treatment. If you wish, you can donate online by credit card: a Saferpay Terminal window pops up, which allows you to fill out information, so it is really a simple process. And if you come across any difficulties or have any further questions about the organisation, at the bottom of the webpage is an email button which allows you to contact Beat Richner. 

I'm not telling you that you have to donate or anything; it is completely up to you. I just found this a very worthy cause and wanted to let more people know about the situation in Cambodia. I would be really appreciative if anyone who is reading this, let other people know about Kantha Bopha, so just pass on the official web address or share this blog to your friends so they too can spread the word about how we can help save children's lives in Cambodia, because every donation counts. 

Thank you everyone, the web address is:

http://www.beat-richner.ch/