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Published: February 7th 2007
We are back in Phnom Penh again this time on our way to Kampot in the south.
While preparing for this trip it was apparent there was a great need here. Cambodia is a country only just beginning to emerge from the ravages of war. American bombing in the 60s, civil war, genocide, and more civil war pretty well sums up the previous 40 years. We have been witness to a building boom here, much of it being generated for and from the tourism industry. However once the hotels are built then what? Not everyone can drive tuktuk or clean hotel rooms. As usual in the third world a select few seem to benefit. In today’s paper the garment industry just announced a minimum wage increase from $40 to $45 per month and they are the lucky ones. For the vast majority of Cambodians a brush with the tourist dollar or a factory job is the stuff of dreams. So to for many is basic healthcare. Imagine not knowing what your grandchildren look like because of blinding cataracts or suffering day after day unable to function because of untreated and improperly healed wounds or burns.
Today we took a
day to visit with Cambodians working to help the disadvantaged here with these needs. Before coming to Cambodia we made a donation to
Rose Charities Kien Khleang sight restoration centre and
Operation FIRST Cambodia Our first stop was the Kien Khleang centre. There we met briefly with Dr. Hang Vra. His morning is spent examining patients and today was no different, in the afternoon he does the eye surgeries. Taking him away from his work for a handshake and a hello was enough. Many of his patients come long distances at great inconvenience and expense to see him and who would want to do that then have some tourist show up to visit with the Doctor. Instead his assistant showed us around the facility and introduced us to some patients. I don’t have the words to begin to explain the need here, of course equipment is high on the list and the patient recovery areas are very basic. $25 pays for a sight restorative eye surgery.
Our next stop was to visit Dr. Nous Sarom with FIRST Rose rehabilitation surgeries at the Chey Chumnas Hospital. The Operation FIRST Cambodia facility is newly built and offers corrective surgery for tumors, burns, wounds and congenital defects such as
cleft palate. Dr. Sarom had just returned from a plastic surgery conference in Vietnam and so there were no patients there today. Tomorrow morning he has three surgeries, a cleft palate, a foot skin graft and a burnt hand thats healed shut. He has need for a modern suction device, operating table and separate toilet for patients. $50 covers the cost for one complete surgery.
Unlike the NGOs who’s brand new SUVs we observed parked outside expensive downtown riverside restaurants, both these charities have little overhead, donations go right to the Cambodians in need being helped by Cambodians. We encourage anyone reading this to consider making a donation to Rose Charities with the knowledge your donation is helping those that need the help.
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Lee
non-member comment
A good work done!
Wow, must have been a pretty humbling experience, helping out at a hospital/clinic. One of those things that you don’t want to do, but you are glad you did when you are done. Stay off the land mines!