The Cambodian government has awarded a high decoration to the Czech Development Agency for the long-term support of the Caritas Takeo Eye Hospital (CTEH). In a ceremony to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the "Caritas Takeo Eye Program," held in Pshar Takor Village in Takeo on October 10, 2017, the "Sahametrei Thnak Tepidin Order" was handed over by Cambodia's Deputy Prime Minister Bin Chinn to V. Tesar, Cargé d´Affaires of the Czech Embassy in Phnom Penh. The same level was awarded to the representative of the Caritas CR in Cambodia. The order shall be rscognized as an expression of appreciation and gratitude of the Government of Cambodia to the government of the Czech Republic for the long-term support of projects implemented in Cambodia to reduce poverty, improve health care, quality education, environment, social system, water resources management and business support.

The Takeo Department of Eye Care is Cambodia's top specialized medical office. With donor support, the Takeo Eye Care Program has been able to build 70 beds pavilions for post-operative care with nearly 60 staff who provide care to a large number of patients every year from across the country. The activity of the clinic is financially supported within the framework of the Czech Development Cooperation Program "Support and development of ophthalmology in the rural areas of Takeo Province in Cambodia". This project aims to improve the quality of provision of comprehensive ophthalmological services by increasing the qualifications of physicians and healthcare professionals, as well as increasing the availability of ophthalmological services within the healthcare system at district level. The emphasis in the clinic's work is also on broadening the awareness of broad sections of the population about the prevention of eye damage.

The ceremony in Pshar Takor Village took place with the participation of high-ranking officials of the KH government, central and local institutions, and took place for great public and media interest. As part of the "World Day of Vision 2017" remark, the various levels of representatives of other donors and retired staff of the clinic have been rewarded.

Note of author: This award belongs to first of all to my predecessors and to all those who took decisions and worked diligently on the development cooperation of the Czech Republic with Cambodia. VT