Over the past 11 years, Hun Many's volunteer medical teams have organised more than 1,700 complimentary medical check-up events, drawing participation from around 13 million individuals across the nation.
According to a report released by Many's volunteer medical teams on November 19, since December 2012, the 12,069-member strong volunteer medical teams have actively conducted outreach education disease prevention, organised vaccination campaigns and provided complimentary medical care to the public. They have also recently engaged in outreach education on Covid-19 prevention.
The report highlights that over the 11-year period, the team engaged in 1,761 outreach sessions, catering to a total of 13,127,175 people.
"On average, each person incurred a cost of approximately $50 for check-up and treatment, resulting in a total expenditure of about $656,358,750," the report stated.
On November 20, deputy governor of Preah Vihear province Nop Vuthy said that residents in his province eagerly await the health check-ups and treatments provided by the volunteer medical team during their visits.
Vuthy emphasised that, based on feedback from the community, there is a consistent desire for the team to sustain its activities, particularly by reaching remote areas. This need arises as residents of Preah Vihear province often reside at a considerable distance from essential healthcare service providers.
"As the provincial authority, we welcome Hun Many’s volunteer medical team to offer health check-ups and treatment to our residents, particularly in remote areas. This is essential as our community lacks comprehensive knowledge on how to properly use medication. Increasing the frequency of the team's visits would encourage people to adopt modern treatment methods," he said.
Vuthy underscored the significance of the team's efforts, highlighting their role in benefiting the community and contributing to the reduction of both mortality rates and poverty levels resulting from medical expenses.
He added that the team's activities play a pivotal role in steering people away from traditional, superstitious treatments towards embracing modern medical services.
Yong Kim Eng, president of the People Centre for Development and Peace, asserted that offering a free medical treatment programme, whether initiated by politicians or philanthropists, is commendable. He noted the widespread concern about health among the public, coupled with financial constraints preventing many from seeking medical care.
"When a medical team comes to offer complimentary check-ups and treatment, there is widespread joy, particularly within the impoverished local communities who face financial barriers to accessing hospitals," he said.