Kantha Bopha Foundation Exceeds $6.38M Goal for Free Children's Healthcare

AKP Phnom Penh, July 01, 2026— The Cambodia Kantha Bopha Foundation has raised more than $6.38 million from over 350,000 donors in its 2026 “10,000 Riel, 10,000 People” drive, which officially closed on June 30. The annual campaign, now in its most successful year to date, underscores a nationwide commitment to keeping the kingdom’s children’s hospitals free and fully funded. Lok Chumteav Dr. Pich Chanmony, First Lady of Cambodia and Honorary President of the foundation, thanked the public—including Buddhist monks, civil servants, and private citizens—for their overwhelming generosity. “Every contribution, large or small, is a lifeline,” she said. “These funds ensure that no family pays a single Riel see for emergency care, surgeries, or neonatal treatment.” The Kantha Bopha hospitals, founded by the late Swiss pediatrician Beat Richner, treat more than 1.5 million children and pregnant women annually—entirely free of charge. With annual operating costs exceeding $40 million, the foundation relies on both domestic campaigns and international support. Though the high-profile June push has ended, foundation officials stressed that patient demand never pauses. They urged the public to continue monthly or one-off donations to sustain round-the-clock services, including intensive care units and mobile outreach teams. “The campaign may be over, but the need is every day,” a spokesperson added. “We call on all Cambodians to make supporting our children a year-round habit.” Donations remain open via the foundation’s website, bank transfers, and partner payment apps, with 100% of proceeds going directly to hospital operations. Since its founding, the Kantha Bopha system has cut national child mortality rates by more than 70%, a legacy that organizers say depends on enduring public solidarity. By K. Rithy Reak