The Doctor Beat Support Group was formed to tell the story of a revolution in 3rd world paediatric health care and has produced the provocative documentary “Dr Beat and The Passive Genocide of Children” directed by Janine Hosking.

Siem Reap Extension Project

The 3rd Kantha Bopha hospital, also known as the Jayavarman VII, was built in 1999. It is in Siem Reap and is perhaps the most famous. It is a teaching hospital. Dr Beat Richner performs his famous concert in the main lecture hall each Saturday night. Dr Richner becomes Beatocello and tells the shocking story (between music pieces) of the health crisis in Cambodia, of how the West helped bring it on, and how the West continues to nurture it through misguided Aid initiatives. The concert has raised many millions of dollars over the years and had a life-changing impact on thousands of visitors. 7.15pm – every Saturday night at the Jayavarman VII hospital.

In 2004 a major extension included new wards and a maternity wing. That wing now delivers around 1200 babies per month. HIV transmission from mother to child has all but been eliminated by a strict regime of antiretrovirals for the mother before and after; delivery by cesarian section and avoidance of breast feeding at Jayavarman VII.

Treatment at all Kantha Bopha hospitals is free. Medical outcomes are far superior to other hospitals and clinics. Roads are improving and highways are being built. Consequently more and more parents have knowledge of and access to Kantha Bopha. Thus the demand continues to grow. Jayavarman VII is a huge hospital with more than 600 beds, but the number of patients is often more like 800, with many small kids sharing a bed or lying on a mat on the ground.

Work is well under way on a major extension that will add another 175 beds. It will also have a new pharmacy and pathology laboratory. It will have a radiology dept with MRI and CT scanners. Total cost will be around USD $9 million.

This project will take the total beds available in Kantha Bopha hospitals to more than 2000 and allow up to 125,000 hospitalisations of severely sick children per annum, many of whom would otherwise die. The scale of the KB operation is almost beyond comprehension. In a tragic epidemic of dengue fever last year over 23,000 desperately sick children were admitted. Many or most required plasma and intensive care.

The Dr Beat support group expects to raise US$1mill by the end of the year and do its bit to see the new facility open on time.

Progress reports will we posted on this web site.

The project will be monitored by way of regular personal visits and communication with Kantha Bopha.

100% of funds collected will go directly to Kantha Bopha. Australian donations are tax deductible. Any admin costs will be borne by the members of the Dr Beat support group such that all funds donated contribute directly.

To make a donation please contact the O’Neill Foundation.
www.oneillfoundation.com.au

For more information please contact:

or visit the Kantha Bopha website on www.beatocello.com