COUNTRY: Cambodia
PROGRAM: UniBreak
PROJECT: Nursing
WRITTEN BY: Annie Matters
It is day 10 of our community health placement in Cambodia and we have most certainly found our feet! Week one of placement saw the group divided between the Military Handicap Development Centre, the Svay Chek Health Clinic in Angkor Thom and the Krabei Riel Health Centre. Between the 3 locations there were many exciting experiences. The girls at MHDC were split between home visits and the school. Those on home visits spent their week visiting local homes within the MHDC community and performing household evaluations and basic health check-ups. The families they visited were incredibly welcoming and appreciative. The girls at the MHDC school led health education classes for local men, women and children on topics such as "Teeth cleaning", "Mental health", "Healthy eating" and "Hand washing". The UQ students were most impressed with just how receptive the local Cambodian people were to their lessons and also with the sheer number of questions that were asked of them. The two groups who spent their first week in the clinics at Angkor Thom and Krabei Riel were lucky enough to experience 4 births; 3 at Angkor Thom and 1 at Krabei Riel. The nursing and midwifery students were overwhelmed to have the opportunity to witness a birth in another country. They offered assistance where it was needed but found that the local midwives were incredible mentors and teachers. The girls at the clinics also had the opportunity to practice their nursing skills; treating wounds, performing health assessments, giving health advice and recognising health conditions in need of referral.
It hasn't been all work and no play this week. After 3 or 4pm when we arrived home to Jasmine Lodge, alot of us usually indulged in a refreshing swim before heading out on the town in Siem Reap. Most nights were spent exploring the markets, practicing our bartering skills or seeking out the best massage in Siem Reap. Over the course of the week we have also sought out some of the best places to eat. Whether it be a delicious noodle soup or fried rice from a traditional Khmer restaurant for $2, or if you wanted to spend a little more, delicious Mexican or some more of our western favourites for around $5. I’m sure many of the girls would agree with me when I say that the coconut shakes have been a delicious and refreshing staple for most of our lunch or dinner outings and will be sorely missed on our arrival back home in Australia!
So it is now the weekend and we find ourselves in Phnom Penh. After the late night flight on Friday we arrived at our hotel and got settled in, feeling very pampered with an air conditioner in each room. We got a good night sleep in preparation for the weekend. On the agenda today is the Choeung Ek Genocidal Centre and the Tuol Sleng Genocidal Museum (more commonly referred to as the Killing Fields and S-21) for an insight into Cambodian history, particularly the Khmer Rouge era between 1975 and 1979. Then following some lunch we may explore the Russian markets before finding a nice restaurant along the river to settle down and rewind for dinner, and you guessed it, coconut shakes.
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