TAKEO, Cambodia (UCAN) -- The recent opening of a Church-run free pediatric ward here is seen as a significant step in upgrading medical care and treatment for children in Cambodia.

Bangkok-based Archbishop Salvatore Pennacchio, apostolic nuncio to Cambodia, on March 30 officially opened Bambino Gesu (infant Jesus) pediatric ward at Dankeo Referral Hospital in Takeo province, southern Cambodia.

The pediatric ward was set up by L'Ospedale Bambino Gesu, a pediatric hospital in Rome, in collaboration with the Cambodian health ministry. Health minister Nuth Sokhom attended the opening.

Archbishop Pennacchio, in his speech, said the Holy See is "happy to be associated with this project." He explained that "it is an essential part of the work of the Catholic Church to render assistance" to sick children and "to care for and uphold the dignity of the people." L'Ospedale Bambino Gesu sponsors the pediatric ward.

The archbishop further said this service "is not limited in any way by differences of creed, race, language or culture." Quoting from Pope Benedict XVI's encyclical Deus Caritas Est (God is love), the nuncio said, "Those who practice charity in the Church's name will never seek to impose the Church's faith upon others. They realize that a pure and generous love is the best witness to the God in whom we believe and by whom we are driven to love."

Doctor Lorenzo Borghese, director of the ward, told UCA News that Cambodia greatly needs to develop clinical and surgical skills to treat various severe diseases and conditions. Moreover, Minister Nuth has shown great interest in developing quality health care. During the minister's visit to the Vatican, the doctor added, he expressed the medical needs of the country, and is very happy to cooperate in the Church project.

Borghese described the opening of the new pediatric ward as a significant step in upgrading the quality of medical care and treatment for children here.

Doctor Hem Sareth, director of Dankeo Referral Hospital, told UCA News that US$108,000 was spent rebuilding an old section of the hospital that was turned into the Bambino Gesu ward. Another US$600,000 was used to obtain equipment, including surgical instruments.

According to information from L'Ospedale Bambino Gesu, the pediatric ward in Takeo has 24 regular beds and eight intensive-care beds. It has an operating theater for various kinds of surgery, and is staffed by doctors and nurses from Italy.

The staff also provides regular consultations in churches in Phnom Penh, Battambang, Kompong Cham and Kompong Thom. Children who need surgery or hospitalization are taken to Dankeo Referral Hospital in Takeo. While the hospital provides food for the children and their mothers, Catholic organizations and other NGOs meet the transfer costs.

Training for two native Cambodian surgeons and three nurses started in October 2006.

END