AHC Doctors Complete Training
Left: Four new AHC Doctors
Right: Dr. Varun Kumar teaches advanced pediatric life support
Continuing with AHC’s strong commitment to education, we are proud
to announce the graduation of four junior doctors: Dr. Kheng Chheng,
Dr. Sreng Kea, Dr. Lov Ke, and Dr. Bou Vibonne each completed their
three-year junior doctor training in February. These four doctors have
been an asset to the hospital and have proved to be very talented medical
professionals. We congratulate these doctors for completing the education
program at AHC and wish them luck in their future medical endeavors.
AHC is excited to introduce four new first-year junior doctors into
the hospital. After completing a two month training course, the doctors
will begin working at the hospital and are all very excited to be at
AHC. The new doctors are proud to work at AHC and have chosen this hospital
over others due to the continued education available and the opportunity
for international collaboration with volunteer doctor’s the world over.
We are very pleased to have these four doctors as an addition to the
talented AHC staff.
Additionally, the hospital is excited about introducing five new nurses’
to the nursing staff. These nurses recently completed their training
at Battambang Regional Nursing School and Kampong Cham Regional Nursing
School. The nurses enjoy working with the children in the hospital and
chose AHC due to the large amount of care that nurses are able to give
to patients. Currently, all five nurses are working in the in patient
department and are enjoying their experience at the hospital.
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Physiotherapy
Left: Volunteer Sandra Arnrich works with AHC physiotherapist
Khut Rany
Right: Child receives inhalation treatment
With the support of Angkors Kinder, AHC’s Physiotherapy
program at AHC continues to develop and improve. In March, more than
300 physiotherapy treatments were provided to a total of 60 patients.
The majority of cases seen by Rany and AHC volunteers are infants and
young children suffering from respiratory illnesses. To help continue
care once children leave the hospital, Rany spends time with each parent
teaching them techniques that they can continue once they return home.
As with all AHC staff, continuing education and training for our physiotherapist,
Ms. Khut Rany, is an important part of what we do. In addition to benefitting
from the experience and guidance of volunteer specialists, Rany is currently
attending courses in Phnom Penh to obtain an Advanced Certificate in
Physiotherapy Practice. The curriculum includes 16 weeks of training
divided into four modules, a total of eight weeks of theory and eight
weeks of practice.
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Surgery
Left: Run Noy with her father after surgery
Right: Using toys for distraction, Dr. Phara examines Noy before she
returns home
In March, more than 120 Cambodian children were fortunate to receive
free surgery at Angkor Hospital for Children.
One of the children operated on in March was two-year old Run Noy,
who lives in a small rural village in Banteay Meanchey Province, more
than 100 kilometers from Siem Reap. She is one of eight children in
her family. Ten months ago Noy was injured during a lightning and thunder
storm (if you look closely in the photograph you can see the burn injury
on her arm). Following the lightning strike, Noy’s vision gradually
decreased over several months and upon arrival at AHC she was diagnosed
as having bilateral cataracts.
Lightning victims suffer ocular effects due to thermal or electrical
damage, intense heat, and contusion from the thunder shock wave or combinations
of these factors. Cataracts typically develop within a few days, although
cases have been seen where they occurred as late as two years afterwards.
Noy's right eye was successfully operated on at AHC by Dr. Phara, our
ophthalmologist. Her left eye will be completed next month.
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Volunteer Story
Left: Volunteer Joan Knecht with AHC's Nursing
Education Coordinator, Ms. Prak Manila
Right: Volunteer Joan Knecht providing lecture to nursing staff
Throughout March, 40 volunteers worked within the hospital in both medical
and non medical fields. The hospital is grateful to the many people
that are willing to volunteer their time and knowledge to the hospital.
‘Heartwarming and heart wrenching describes my month in Siem Reap!
Arriving at AHC for a second visit in three years as a nurse volunteer,
I immediately sensed a personal comfort level and familiarity that made
my return delightful. Seeing for myself the growth of hospital services
and the continuing quality care was as heartwarming as the beautiful
Cambodian children themselves.
Of course the heart wrenching suffering of fragile children and
the continued poverty in nearby Siem Reap and the countryside pulls
at the heart strings. One can never avoid seeing the challenging reality
of everyday life struggles for Cambodians.
The mission of the hospital, ever striving to cure illness and
to reach out to the community with education and screening programs,
is apparent everyday. I witnessed health teaching at the bedside for
parents and children, in the classroom with many international lecturers,
in the community during home care visits, with first aid programs and
health screenings. AHC is tenacious in improving children’s lives with
education and prevention. One can only admire and respect the people
who carry out this mission… Heart warming indeed!’
Joan Knecht, MS., R.N.
AHC Volunteer
Weighing a child in Outpatient Department (Photo
courtesy of Karl Grobl 2008)
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The NEED
