Cambodia Sept 11 – report to World Orthopaedic Concern
The joint WOC and Australian
Orthopaedic Outreach project to improve orthopaedic services in Cambodia is now
in its 7th year.
At Kossamak Government
Hospital in Phnom Penh, where we are developing the main Orthopaedic Unit, improvements
in training for surgeons and nurses (and the cleaners) have resulted in better
infection control and quality of care. Improved ward and theatre facilities by
refurbishment and provision of equipment, have led to an enhanced reputation
and increase admissions and operative throughput.
The return of Dr Sina from
his training in India and France has allowed treatment for the many open and
complex fractures to advance; and for a Cambodian (Dr Sina) to manage more
patients with complex polio, leprosy and orthopaedic deformities. Our fund is temporarily supporting his salary to
allow him to develop this service and to interact with several provincial
hospitals.
Fundraising in the last few
years has been successful in supporting this programme and to finance the construction
of a building which will provide an extra 20 beds and an outpatient department.
This was opened in October 2010 by the Minister of Health.
Further funding has now been
obtained to continue to develop five provincial hospitals and to progress the
first Cambodian Reconstruction/Orthopaedic Unit at Kossamak Hospital. At five provincial hospitals implants sets
have been purchased from India and an implant stock control system and
sustainable replacement system instituted. Surgeons and nurses have completed
update courses. Building projects to expand
and upgrade wards and theatres in three provincial hospitals have also been
completed.
The project continues with
the object of completing a significant and sustainable improvement for the six
hospitals in two years.
We have enough teaching
support at present but more may be required in the future.
Dalton Boot 10/09/2011
Email: daltonboot@waitrose.com