China donates 20 mobile clinics

The Health Ministry has received 20 mobile clinics, which it will distribute to 15 provinces, provided under an aid agreement with China.

The mobile clinics were handed over on Wednesday by Deng Boqing, China International Development Agency’s deputy director, to Health Minister Mam Bun Heng at the ministry.

This is the second batch of 20 mobile clinics which CIDA has provided to the Health Ministry. The first 20 mobile clinics were given in May and distributed to some provincial health departments to serve the poor.

Mr Bun Heng said during the handover ceremony that the government has now received 40 mobile clinics thanks to a grant from the Chinese government.

“We want to thank the government of the People’s Republic of China for providing the mobile clinics,” he said. “This is another example of Cambodia-China cooperation and shows that the friendship, solidarity and cooperation between the two countries is growing stronger.”

Mr Bun Heng said that the new batch of mobile clinics will be distributed to health departments in the capital and in Kampong Thom, Kampot, Koh Kong, Kratie, Mondulkiri, Preah Vihear, Prey Veng, Pursat, Ratanakkiri, Stung Treng, Oddar Meanchey, Kep, Pailin and Tboung Khmum provinces.

“These mobile clinics are needed by our people, especially in the rural areas and factories where there are no nearby health centres,” he said. “Now we have mobile clinics in all health departments in the Kingdom.”

In February, Mr Bun Heng signed an agreement with the economic and commercial counsellor at the Chinese embassy on providing and receiving the 40 mobile clinics and other health equipment.

Chhneang Sovutha, Kratie provincial health department director, said yesterday that his department will receive one mobile clinic which it will use to treat people in rural areas and during natural disasters or other emergencies.

“It is really helpful to us because there is a lot of medical equipment inside which we can use to treat people in remote areas,” he said.

Klouk Houth, Oddar Meanchey provincial health department director, said that his department also got one mobile clinic for use in the province.

“We will use it to help our people, especially in areas that do not have enough health centres,” he said.