La Chaîne de l’Espoir has its origins in South-East Asia, when Dr Bernard Kouchner and the founders of La Chaîne de l’Espoir, Professor Alain Deloche and Dr Eric Cheysson, launched The Island of Light, a hospital ship rescuing the “Boat People” fleeing Vietnam, a key moment in the history of the French Doctors.

Founded in 1994 to reduce the injustice of place of birth, La Chaîne de l’Espoir aims to strengthen healthcare systems in all the countries where it operates, by providing access to medical and surgical care for the poorest populations: support for hospital engineering, transfer of new technologies, training of surgeons, anaesthetists, operating room nurses and biomedical engineers.

In Cambodia, La Chaîne de l’Espoir has supported the Calmette hospital in Phnom Penh and the Kantha Bopha hospitals in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap to master three specialties: cardiac surgery, neurosurgery and, more recently, orthopedic surgery.

THE CAUSE WE SUPPORT

Despite the availability of free pediatric surgical care through the Kantha Bopha Foundation, Cambodia’s public healthcare system remains fragile, particularly in rural areas where medical infrastructure is limited. Many poor children in remote provinces still struggle to access specialized treatment due to distance, financial barriers, and a lack of medical personnel. To address these challenges, La Chaîne de l’Espoir reopened its Cambodia office in 2024 to assess needs in underserved regions and develop a targeted program to improve healthcare access and infrastructure in provincial areas. By strengthening local capacity and expanding access to specialized surgery, La Chaîne de l’Espoir is working to ensure that no child is left behind when it comes to life-saving care.

Target amount for pledge:HK$120,000.00 for 2 orthopedic missions

(including 100 consultations and 20 surgeries for poor children, as well as training for 10 medical staff)