Wing Bank agents establish community fund to support Kantha Bopha hospitals

Wing Cash Xpress agents nationwide voluntarily raised approximately $45,000 on Friday in support of the Cambodia Kantha Bopha Foundation.

The hospitals have provided free medical care to the majority of financially vulnerable Cambodian children for nearly 30 years.

The Wing Cash Xpress Community Fund was formed in August this year to raise funds to locally support social causes.

Financial support for the Kantha Bopha hospitals’ operations is critical, especially during the pandemic. For this reason, Wing Bank established the Wing Cash Xpress Community Fund and cooperated with the Cambodia Kantha Bopha Foundation to ensure the sustainability of the Kantha Bopha hospitals in providing free and quality healthcare services to children in Cambodia without discrimination. The fund had reached $45,000 as of September 17 of this year.

“We are extremely proud of our agents for their kind hearts, noble acts and dedication to helping needy children through the community fund. We have nearly 10,000 agents in every district in Cambodia which enable us to mobilise the community to rally around the cause. Our agents not only work to provide financial services for the daily needs of Cambodians, but they also contribute their personal resources to help vulnerable people in their communities,” said Wing Bank chief consumer business officer Chheangsreng Srun, who is also in charge of sales and distribution.

Pheng Saret, 61, a Wing Cash Xpress agent in Preah Sihanouk province contributed $100 to the cause, saying: “I can still remember when my grandchild was seriously ill and it was difficult to find a reliable hospital to provide treatment. Kantha Bopha provided us hope. Through the Wing Cash Xpress Community Fund, I was able to express my gratitude to the hospital.”

Ministry of Economy and Finance secretary of state and executive director of the Cambodia Kantha Bopha Foundation HE Ros Seilava expressed his appreciation to the agents who supported the children’s hospitals during this challenging period.

“During this difficult time, the foundation needs public support so that Kantha Bopha hospitals’ operations can run adequately and with compassion. The agents’ donations will help children in need. I am deeply thankful for their contributions and for helping promote charity campaigns in support of the Cambodia Kantha Bopha Foundation,” he said.

The Kantha Bopha Children’s Hospitals in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap have provided high-quality treatment to infants and children for free since being founding in 1992 by the late Dr Beat Richner. The hospital spent almost $40 million on its operations last year.

Over 639,260 children checked into the Kantha Bopha Children’s Hospitals and received consultation at the hospitals’ various outpatient wards. A total of 133,026 seriously ill patients were hospitalised and treated free of charge in 2020.

Wing Cash Xpress agents have been crucial in driving financial inclusion and facilitating cash flow by providing convenient access, particularly to women.

Wing users can also join the cause and contribute by sending money to Wing account number 5559 to donate in riel or to 5558 to donate in dollars. They may also visit any Wing Cash Xpress agent across the Kingdom to transfer funds. Wing Bank ensures that 100 per cent of the proceeds reach the hospital and waive all service fees for donations.