More than 1,000 households in Anlong Chrey commune, Thala Barivat district, Stung Treng province will now receive needed health services to reduce maternal and infant mortality from the launch of a waiting facility in Veal Denh Health Centre, with the assistance of Plan International Cambodia (PIC).
The inauguration ceremony of the facility on June 9 was presided over by Keo Savoeun, deputy provincial governor, and was attended by more than 500 people, including officials of the provincial departments and units of the armed forces.
Men Kung, spokesperson for the Stung Treng provincial administration, said on June 11 that the commissioning of the waiting facility at Veal Denh Health Centre would now bring great comfort and benefit to the people of the Anlong Chrey commune, an area with up to 1,000 households living in proximity to the new health centre.
He said that the introduction of the facilty will be of immediate benefit to local people and will also bring health services closer to people. The new facility will reduce the travel time and associated expenses often incurred by patients who have previously sought treatment at distant health centres.
“It really contributes to the promotion of health services for the people in the Veal Denh area, and the people on the border of Preah Vihear can also come for treatment here,” Kung said.
He explained that the health centre serves as a maternity ward, providing regular check-ups and delivery services, managed by a team of dedicated midwives. The new space will offer a comfortable resting place for patients’ families.
Plan International’s deputy country director, Yi Kimthan, shed light on the construction details of the project. The facility, costing around $60,000 and taking nearly a year to build, boasts multiple amenities including beds, furniture, and a water well.
“The commissioning of this building will benefit more than 1,000 households with a total population of 5,123 people, and the reason we built this building is because the Veal Denh Health Centre is in a remote area far from provincial towns which many people find difficult to travel,” Kinthan said.
He said the facility has a kitchen for patients and their families – an upgrade from the previous health centre. Kimthan expressed his optimism that the new facility will encourage more pregnant women to choose health centre deliveries over traditional home births, thereby reducing maternal and infant mortality rates prevalent in Stung Treng province.
“We expect this waiting house will increase the number of pregnant women coming for prenatal check-ups and delivery in health centres as we now have a new building dedicated for prenatal and after childbirth rest,” he added.
