GE Developing Health Globally Commissions First Hospitals in Cambodia

October 06, 2009

(Post by CAAI News Media)

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--GE is commissioning three hospitals in the Phnom Penh area of Cambodia through its Developing Health GloballyTM program. Each commissioning marks the completion of the product installation and training and provides each hospital the opportunity to share the news of the upgraded facility to the community. The Developing Health Globally corporate citizenship program is aimed at improving access to quality healthcare by addressing critical gaps in existing developing-world healthcare facilities by providing products and expertise.

The Kossamak National Hospital, Kampong Speu Referral Hospital and Phnom Penh Municipal Referral Hospital, three newly upgraded hospitals, will be commissioned on October 6 at 5 p.m., October 7 at 10 a.m., and October 8 at 11 a.m., respectively. Over the next year, GE is committed to commission three more hospitals in Cambodia.

“This program reflects GE’s support for access to quality healthcare for vulnerable populations in Southeast Asia,” said Bob Corcoran, vice president of corporate citizenship at GE Corporation. “We hope that our solutions and expertise make a positive, sustainable impact on the hospital and the surrounding communities.”

Each site will also have a GE employee ambassador assigned from the GE Asia Pacific American Forum (GE’s Asian-America employee networking association) to ensure that improvements are sustained. Members of the forum will work with the Ministry of Health in Cambodia and hospital staff to track progress, ensure the donated products are still working and share best practices.

“The Developing Health Globally program is a terrific platform to reach out to Southeast Asia, particularly to emerging markets such as Cambodia,” said Stuart Dean, president of GE ASEAN. “Providing quality access to healthcare and utilizing GE’s products and expertise to help people throughout the country live healthier lives, is a great way to affirm GE as a long-term partner who really cares about the people and the development of Cambodia.”

GE leaders attending the commissioning include Bob Corcoran, vice president of corporate citizenship, Stu Dean, president of GE ASEAN, Colin Low, president of GE in Cambodia, and Dararith Lim, market development manager of GE in Cambodia.

The GE Developing Health Globally program directly impacts 4.8 million people globally through its $40 million commitment in 14 countries throughout Africa, Latin America and Southeast Asia. In addition, the GE Foundation has made $8 million in grants to support girls’ education, equipment training and health workers skill-building in many of these areas. The program offers solutions comprised of products form GE Water, Energy, Healthcare and Consumer and Industrial businesses.

GE (NYSE: GE) is a diversified global infrastructure, finance and media company that is built to meet essential world needs. From energy, water, transportation and health to access to money and information, GE serves customers in more than 100 countries and employs more than 300,000 people worldwide. GE is Imagination at Work. For more information, visit the company's Web site at http://www.ge.com/.