The Cambodian Ministry of Health reported that as of July 23,
2007 there had been 24,377 cases of Dengue Fever so far this year in the country,
and almost 300 deaths. At Angkor Hospital for Children, more than 1,500 children
with Dengue Fever have been treated since this epidemic began. In June alone,
there was an excess of 700 cases – more than twice the number seen in all
of 2006! The situation did not improve in July, with even more children treated
for Dengue Fever this month than last month.
The staff here at AHC would like to extend their deepest gratitude to all
of those individuals who have very generously sent contributions to help see
us through this crisis. Your support is helping us maintain a safe, clean
and compassionate environment for the children. Due to the current situation
we have had to increase our capacity for admissions. The increased number
of beds leads to a need for extra medications, IV fluids, blood tests, food
to feed the children and caretakers, and extra manpower to keep the hospital
running. Thank you!
If you would like to help fight the Dengue epidemic, Click Here
What is Dengue Fever?
Ul Sophanich is a 6 years old girl who lives with her family in Battambang
Province, about 3 hours away from AHC. When she first became ill, Sophanich’s
parents, like many Cambodians, took her to a local private clinic for treatment.
After three nights in the clinic, the young girl’s condition deteriorated
and the clinic
staff told Sophanich’s parents that the she had no chance of surviving and
would soon die. The cost for the clinic treatment…$500!!
Refusing to accept the clinic’s prognosis, the family took Sophanich out of
the clinic and made the journey to AHC. Upon arrival at the hospital her condition
was indeed grim and she was immediately admitted to the Intensive Care Unit
(ICU). Sophanich spent the next five days in the ICU and her condition improved.
After six days in the hospital she fully recovered and was able to be sent
home with her very happy family. No hospital in Cambodia is able to save all
of the children who arrive at their doorsteps seeking treatment for Dengue
Fever. Many of the families delay seeking treatment because of lack of information
or distance to an appropriate health facility. However, at AHC we are very
proud that because of the dedication and skill of the staff, the mortality
rate is much lower than the national average.
If you would like to help fight the Dengue epidemic, Click Here
A Variety of Illnesses
One of the challenges of managing an epidemic of any kind is still finding
the energy and resources needed to treat the regular flow of children needing
care. Here at AHC that means caring for the hundreds of children that arrive
each day for illnesses other than Dengue Fever. Children suffering from respiratory
illnesses continue to account for the majority of cases admitted to our ICU.
Each month our lab team performs thousands of tests. Performing
some of these blood tests became a little faster and more reliable this month
with the procurement of a new Chemical Analyzer. We are very grateful to Mr.
Harmut Giesecke (Germany) who donated the needed funds and to the Mindray
Co. (Hong Kong) who generously provided the machine at cost. We would also
like to thank Goldman Sachs (Hong Kong) for the donation to purchase the chemicals/reagents
for us to run the machine. To ensure the best use and maintenance of the new
equipment, two AHC staff members traveled to China for a weeklong training
program.
(left) AHC staff with donated supplies
(right) AHC Maintenance chief Phan Va with Lab Manager, Hor Putchath
New Kitchen
Providing
nutritional support and education has long been an integral part of the care
provided to the children and families served by AHC. Thanks to a generous
donation by the Inoye Foundation (Japan) we have been able to upgrade those
services with the construction of a new kitchen area. The new kitchen, twice
the size of the old one, will offer a place for families to cook their meals
as well as provide a focal point for our staff to teach the basics of proper
nutrition.
AHC peer-counselor leads one of the daily cooking demonstration
classes
Volunteers
Helping out the hospital this month were a total of 44 volunteers. It was
definitely a truly international mix, as the volunteers represented such countries
as Australia, Cambodia, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Korea, Netherlands,
Scotland, Singapore, Spain and the USA.
Volunteers from Singapore, Evelyn and Rasmindar
play with the children in the hospital (above)
Volunteer Kathy Parker with AHC X-ray technologist
Khoek Vongsa (below)
The following is feedback we received from two Canadian volunteers who donated
their time and shared their expertise at AHC in July:
“We spent the month of July volunteering at AHC and it has been a humbling
experience. We initially came to work and teach in Ultrasound and X-Ray, but
feel we have been the ones who have learned the most. We worked with the wonderful
and gracious Radiology staff, Dr. Luy Lyda and Vongsa. This is a very busy
and efficient department. We observed excellent work being done with sometimes
rudimentary equipment in the X-ray room. Vongsa is a wizard with the wet developing;
producing the best quality images he can with that technology.
The staff in all departments exhibited great compassion and care towards
the patients and their families. Our donations of medical and x-ray equipment
were gratefully received and utilized immediately. This wonderful institution
has made us feels so welcome, and has stolen our hearts. It offered an opportunity
for us to visit distant villages to help us understand the plight of the people
here and why it is so difficult for them to access health care. The beautiful
children and their families demonstrate such gratitude for the quality work
being done here”.
-Kathy Parker, Professor, Medical Radiation Technology Program, Fanshawe
College,
London, Ontario, Canada
-Barbara Cahill, ARDMS; Radiographer and Ultrasound Technologist (retired)
Student Nurse Training
Continuing
with this year’s Nursing Student project, in July we conducted the clinical
training for 63 nursing students. 32 arrived from Battambang Regional Training
Center (RTC) and 31 from Kampong Cham RTC. Additionally, one instructor for
each school accompanied their students. Each of the students spent two weeks
at AHC, dividing their time between formal classroom lectures and bedside
hands-on clinical practice.
Cambodian nursing students work and learn alongside AHC
staff in the Emergency Room
Work Hard Play Hard
With the increased work demands at the hospital this season it is more important
than ever for the staff to have positive and healthy outlets during their
time off. For many of the male staff at the hospital, weekends now include
participating in the newly formed AHC Football Team.
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