For 12 years in a row, Cambodia Vison has taken volunteer medical specialists from Australia to provide free treatment to Cambodians in need living in rural areas. The primary services offered are in eye and ear health but also basic health care.
When the annual charitable expedition began in 2007, Cambodia Vision led a team of 13 specialists, treating 150 patients, and this year will take more than 100 medical professionals to Cambodia. In 2018, approximately 4,000 patients were treated across six days in the Svay Rieng province.
Cambodia Vision’s Secretary, Thida Yang tells SBS Khmer how the team has grown so fast in its dozen years of service.
“We are so proud of our medical staff and other volunteers for working so hard and giving so much to Cambodian people. We are grateful for their contributions.”
“It is hard work and our volunteers love the experiences. Often our volunteers share these experiences with their colleagues at workplaces and various conferences on their return. This helps recruit more volunteers for future missions. Anyone willing to help is always welcome.”
The diverse team heading to Cambodia includes surgeons, nurses, anaesthetists, orthopedists, pharmacists, optometrists, general practitioners, audiologists and speech pathologists among other volunteers. While the team is mostly Australian, other professionals from France, Finland, the UK, China and Taiwan will also be joining the humanitarian effort this year.
The primary services offered are ocular assessments, cataract and pterygium surgeries, sound assessment, provision of hearing aids, treatment for other basic medical conditions and the dispensing of prescription glasses.
Cambodia Vison Team in Svay Rieng 2018 Source: Client Image
In 2018, Cambodia Vision racked up an impressive number of services, including 444 surgeries, 795 hearing consultations with 700 hearing aids distributed and more than 3,000 GP consultations.
Patients also came away seeing more clearly with 350 pairs of prescription glasses and 950 pairs of reading glasses. As a preventative measure, 3,500 pairs of sunglasses were also given out.
This year the Cambodia Vision team will again visit south-eastern Cambodian province Svay Rieng on the border of Vietnam.
Source: Client Image
Thida Yang said the popularity of their services sees people arrive from all over the country, not just Svay Rieng locals. People have travelin from so far away to seek assistance, indicates the huge need for such services, she says.
“The treatment takes place at Svay Rieng Provincial Hospital, but will see patients from everywhere across the country, between October 27 to November 1, 2019.”
Treatments provided by Cambodia Vision are free for all visitors, as well as provided medications, glasses and hearing aids, plus two free meals a day to the patient and an accompanying carer.
Source: Client Image
