AOC History
While visiting Cambodia in 1992, Mr. Eric Fung (AO Malaysia) saw the many Boat people that had been forced to flee to Phnom Penh due to the continual internal conflict and fighting between the Khmer Rouge and Government forces. The Boat of Hope (BOH) ministry was birthed out of what he saw, that is a ministry designed to reach and assist the medical and spiritual needs of the Boat People and others like them living along the banks of the Mekong River.
The first boat, called the Boat of Hope, was purchased and a pilot mobile medical project was begun on the Mekong River in February 1994, close to Phnom Penh. In 1995 the Ministry of Health (MOH) asked AOC to relocate the BOH mobile medical clinics to the southern half of the provincial district of Lvea Em.
In 2000, the second Boat of Hope was brought to replace the aging first boat. This was replaced by a purpose built River Ambulance in 2005. The Boat of Hope and the River Ambulance were part of AOC’s relief efforts to make life saving evacuations from our project area to Phnom Penh hospitals. However due to technical difficulties with the River Ambulance and improved road access to Lvea Em district the River Ambulance was decommissioned and sold in 2007. Funds from this were used to improve communications and internal access to Health Centers in Lvea Em. This included a radio antenna and hand held phones for the districts 6 Health Centers and small boats to improve access from hard to access places along natural inland waterways and extensive flood plains during the rainy season.
Since the beginning AOC has worked alongside the MOH and has assisted them to rebuild their infrastructure, (Health Centers, Tuberculosis Ward, Maternity Ward) improve the delivery of health services, supported MOH initiatives (TB, Dengue Fever, Immunization) providing medical evacuations and hospital support in Phnom Penh.
Over the years this has expanded to include HIV/AIDS Homecare & Education, Community TB DOTS program, School Health Education, Water & Sanitation, assisting children to school and Church Development activities. AOC continues to work in close partnership with district & local authorities, community and faith-based leaders and members to build a lasting foundation which will meet the need of rural Cambodians now and in the future.
