Cambodian First Lady Urges Support for Kantha Bopha Hospitals Campaign

PHNOM PENH, May 1, 2026 (KPT) — Cambodia’s First Lady, Pich Chanmony Hun Manet, has appealed to citizens at home and abroad to back a nationwide fundraising drive to sustain the country’s Kantha Bopha children’s hospitals.

In her call for the Cambodia Kantha Bopha Foundation’s 2026 “10,000 Riel, 10,000 People” campaign, Dr Pich Chanmony — the foundation’s honorary president — underscored the hospitals’ role in providing free healthcare to children and pregnant women for more than three decades.

She noted that the hospitals had treated over 27.5 million patients since 1992, describing them as a vital lifeline for families across Cambodia.

The foundation said the hospitals require around $45 million annually to maintain services. The campaign encourages donations of 10,000 riel (about $2.50), with collective contributions funding medicines, blood supplies, medical equipment, and support for healthcare workers.

“Although 10,000 riel may seem small, together these donations can make a real difference,” Pich Chanmony said, adding that contributions represent both financial support and an investment in Cambodia’s future.

Speaking on behalf of Prime Minister Hun Manet and herself, she urged citizens and philanthropists to join the campaign, calling it a reflection of national solidarity and the principle that “Cambodians continue to help Cambodians.”