Nokor Tep Hospital Opening

Janne Ritskes is a member of our English Catholic Community and a long-time supporter of development in Cambodia, particularly for women. After dealing with cancer and overcoming it with treatment in Singapore, she realized that Cambodian women wouldn’t have that opportunity and decided to do something about it. What she did was build the Nokor Tep Women’s Hospital on the outskirts of Phnom Penh. After years of organizing, cajoling, and fund-raising she finally realized the soft opening of the hospital this month.

Nokor Tep Women’s Hospital on opening day.
Guests arriving for the ceremony.
Janne greeting Bishop Olivier and the co-founder of the hospital.
Janne introducing the heads of the administrative and medical operations at Nokor Tep.
After the introductions and speeches, the head monk of the nearby pagoda and Bishop Olivier blessed the hospital and grounds with holy water.
For events like this, in this Buddhist country, it is customary for the attending monks to receive a gift. Here the head monk jokingly notes that it is not fair that Bishop Olivier doesn’t receive a gift also.