The Korea Foundation for International Healthcare (KOFIH) and the Cambodia Office of the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) jointly held a series of events on August 5 and 6, 2026, in Battambang Province and Banteay Meanchey Province, Cambodia, to strengthen linkages between rural development and healthcare.

The events included the signing ceremony for the second phase of the Village Development Program (VDP), the opening ceremony of the Malai Health Center, and the inauguration ceremony of the Maternity Ward at Preah Net Preah Referral Hospital.

The joint events were organized as part of the K-Initiative, led by the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Cambodia, to enhance coordination among Korean official development assistance (ODA) actors and promote an integrated approach linking development cooperation projects across different sectors.

The events were attended by Kim Chang Yong, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Cambodia, along with representatives of Korean development cooperation organizations and key Cambodian stakeholders, including the Ministers of Rural Development and Health.

On August 5, the signing ceremony for the second phase of the Village Development Program was held at the Battambang Provincial Hall. The program is a community-driven development initiative that enables local residents to identify and prioritize projects needed in their communities. 

Under the first phase of the program, KOICA supported improvements to basic infrastructure, including facilities and services related to education, healthcare, and roads, in 30 villages across three provinces. The second phase will build on these efforts and further promote sustainable, community-led development.

On August 6, the Malai Health Center was officially opened in Banteay Meanchey Province. The new facility includes consultation rooms, a pharmacy, and a delivery room, and is expected to improve local residents’ access to essential healthcare services.

Later that day, the Maternity Ward at Preah Net Preah Referral Hospital was inaugurated. Through a KOFIH-supported project, the hospital’s delivery rooms, operating room, and neonatal care facilities were newly established. Emergency care training for healthcare personnel was also provided as part of the project.

Song Yong-geun, Director of the KOFIH Cambodia Office, emphasized that improving the emergency obstetric care environment is essential to protecting the lives of mothers and newborns and expressed his expectation that the new maternity ward would contribute to reducing maternal and newborn mortality.

Kim Jun-mo, Country Director of the KOICA Cambodia Office, noted that the outcomes of community-led rural development are contributing to tangible improvements in people’s daily lives, including better access to healthcare services, and reaffirmed KOICA’s commitment to supporting sustainable development.

Ambassador Kim Chang Yong stated that the joint events provided a meaningful opportunity for the Embassy of the Republic of Korea and Korean ODA implementing agencies to work together as “One Team” and demonstrate the value of Korea’s ODA. He added that the Embassy would continue to actively support sustainable development in northwestern Cambodia.

Through continued cooperation with Cambodian partners, KOFIH and KOICA will work to strengthen linkages between rural development and healthcare and contribute to sustainable improvements in the lives of local communities.