Medical staff at Jayavarman VII Hospital in Siem Reap province. PHOTO SUPPLIED
The Kantha Bopha Foundation in Cambodia and its Swiss counterpart in Zurich, Switzerland, have dramatically expanded the maternity ward at Siem Reap’s Jayavarman VII Hospital. This development is a direct response to the surge in expectant mothers from diverse provinces seeking reliable natal and maternity care.
The director of the Jayavarman VII Hospital, Yay Chantana, delivered these remarks at the 42nd Outstanding National Dignitaries programme held on June 30. He noted an uptick in awareness surrounding prenatal care and childbirth among Cambodians.
He added that each expectant mother has had consultations with skilled doctors between six and eight times throughout her pregnancy.
Chantana further emphasised the hospital’s distinct approach to curbing disease transmission, especially HIV, from mothers to infants.
“At Jayavarman VII Hospital, the birthing unit operates independently from other departments, a precautionary measure against possible disease transmission,” he explained.
“Every day, we welcome between 300 and 500 pregnant women for their prenatal checks. Also, between 50 and 70 women deliver their babies here. On peak days, the number reaches up to 100,” he revealed.
He added that the hospital’s clientele comes from Siem Reap, Kampong Thom, Banteay Meanchey, and Preah Vihear provinces, with some expectant mothers presenting complicating conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, goiter, and bleeding disorders. Some have even been redirected from private clinics due to complex cases.
The director also noted that mothers typically remain in the hospital for 24 hours post-delivery because of space constraints, although exceptions are made for severe cases where they can stay up to two weeks.
Chantana provided some sobering statistics about HIV among pregnant women. In 2020, 75 out of 23,775 pregnant women arrived with HIV/AIDS, which equates to 0.31 per cent. The subsequent year saw 58 out of 18,926 pregnant women being HIV positive, or 0.32 per cent.
He added that last year, the same percentage was observed out of 18,066 pregnant women. As of mid-2023, out of 10,062 women who had given birth at the hospital, 31 were living with HIV.
