Written and produced by Som Chamroeun- CBHEP Administrative Assistant
September 2003.

Welcome to our Newsletter Number Seven!

In our last Newsletter, the chief of the Health Center in Chreav, Ms. Po Sophan, was talking about the development of the Health Center due to CBHEP activities. In this Newsletter, we would like to take the opportunity to describe further what CBHEP have been doing during the latest period regarding the following issues:

VHV Training:

Ms. Nov Phal, who previously used to do outreach work, has been promoted to Health Education Coordinator in the same team as Ms. So Chenda. The main role of her new position is to strengthen the qualifications of the Village Health Volunteers (VHV) by providing refresher training, make lesson plans, and do monitoring and follow up of their basic health promoting practices in the villages. And also she provides Training of Trainer (TOT) and in service training to Health Center staff.

In the refresher training for the VHVs, the topics were malaria and dengue fever, as these illnesses are more frequent now during the rainy season. And for VHV Supervisors (VHVS), CBHEP provided malaria, dengue fever, role of VHVS and First-aid training. Altogether, 56 VHVs and 68 VHVS have received the refresher training during these sessions.

Earlier, the VHV and VHVS training took place at CBHEP's training room. Now, however, this training is taking place at the Health Centers, and Health Center staff is invited to take part, both as instructors and participants.

The reason for this change is to establish close and good relations between Health Center staff and VHVs. Especially it is important that the Health Center staff knows the VHVs in their catchments areas, as the VHVs are essential links between the health centers and the people they serve.

Health Center Project
This year, Chreav and Sambour Health Centers have reached Springboard Project Phase 3. That means that both these Health Centers now will function as "models" for the new Health Centers integrated in the Springboard Project. In June, CBHEP conducted a baseline survey in five Health Center catchments areas, and finally, the two Health Centers in Prasat Bakong and Donkeo were chosen. The criteria for this selection were as follows:
The Health Centers should:
*Not be working closely with any other organization.
* Serve more than 9000 people.
* Have five staff or more, including midwife, and also use the MPA (Minimum Package Activities)
* Have a reasonable good standard when it comes to the building facilities.
* Have Health Center staff willing to collaborate with CBHEP.
* Have Feedback Committee (FBC) and Health Center Management Committee (HCMC).

Furthermore:
* The health condition among the people in the communities is relatively poor.
* The choice is agreed upon by the Provincial Health Department (PHD) and the Operational District (OD)
* The security situation is acceptable, as well as access/communications.
* The people in the communities know little about the health center services and do not have a close and good relationship to Health Center.

Donkeo Health Center is located in Puok District, about 21 kilometers from Siem Reap town and serves thirteen villages with 10917 people. There are seven staff; three secondary nurses and four primary nurses.

Bakong Health Center is located in Bakong District, 16 kilometers from Siem Reap town and serves five communes with 17 villages and 17205 inhabitants. It has five staff; three secondary nurses, one secondary midwife and one primary nurse.

Altogether, the health centers serve 30 villages with a total population of 28122.

After having selected the new health Centers, Mr. Poeurk Amra, CBHEPs Health Center Project Coordinator, brought the first six new Health Center staff (three from each Health Center) to visit Chreav and Sambour Health Centers. This exposure trip lasted one day. The aim of this visit was mainly for the new Health Center staff to get experiences and see the changes the old Health Centers had gone through after collaborating with CBHEP.

On July the 4th, a German charitable organization to support health services ''Malteser Hielfs Dienst'' (MHD) from Oddor Meanchey Province, brought 28 people (including Health Center staff and own staff) to visit CBHEP office, VHV health promoting practice in village and Health Center activities.

Community Health Development Project:

The selection of the two new target areas meant a busy period for Mr. Chat Phath, CBHEPs Community Development Coordinator. Phath is responsible for going out into the communities, having meetings with the authorities, delivering information and introducing the CBHEP activities.

After introducing CBHEP to all communes served
by both health centers described above, Phath identified key village people, had meetings with them and then asked them to contribute to the drawing of the social mapping in their respective villages. He will continue this process until all villages are covered.

Administration

CBHEP would like to take this opportunity to introduce our new Technical Advisor in Siem Reap. Mr. Haavard Lorentzen comes from the northern part of Norway, and has worked in Cambodia before. In 1992-1993 he worked for UNTAC, based in Banteay Srey District, Siem Reap Province, and in 1995-1996 he conducted field research on Khmer Buddhism in connection with an MA-thesis in Comparative Religions.

If you have any comments or require further information regarding out work ,please contact Mr Nheam Sakhem at cbhepPManager@hotmail.com. Alternatively, please visit our website www.fwab.org

Should you wish to contribute to this essential project, please contact "Friends" New York.

Friends Without A Border
1123 Broadway Suite 1210
New York
NY 10010

Telephone: 212-691-0909
Fax: 212-255-9060
Email: fwab@fwab.org

Thank You!

From the CBHEP Team: Sakhem, Phaht, Amra, Sarah, Haavard, Chenda, Savon, Phal, Chamroeun, Soniteh, Mom, Kemry and Hon!