Cambodia

I was in Cambodia celebrating a friend's 50th birthday. While everyone slept in, I had arranged for the Children's Surgical Hospital to pick me up and take me to see their clinic.

I was put in touch with them by a lady I met who runs the Chairman's Fund at CLSA. She used to work with them. They basically are a clinic that performs surgery on children who cannot afford to go to a hospital.

I was given a tour by a retired Australian Xray technician. He retired in 1980 and the volunteer position was for people who had experience in XRAY machines from 1980 because that is the what the hospital had...in a wood closet...no lead doors or walls..

I saw people who had pins coming out of their legs resting on metal cots with thin cushions and their relatives slept on the floor under the cots to care for them.

Acid burn victims. Broken bones... lots of painful looking recovery.

I asked where they thought they needed the most help and Lindsay, the Australian, recommended scholarships for the staff who want to be certified in nursing or be proper XRAY technicians.

The guy who drove me, Meng Long was head of their I.T. and after talking to him, I was able to contact Ken at Microsoft about donating server software to bring both the hospital and the Acid Survivor Center online so that everyone's records could be accessible form other locations.

We then took a short drive to the Acid Burn Survivors house. It is in the country side as it is also like a village where they farm for their own produce. A few houses were built in the back on stilts where the people are on their family who care for them.

I walked into the first floor and there were several acid burn survivors. This is a tragic reality that people throw acid on others when in a dispute. Unfortunately the women usually are caring their children when in happens and the children become collateral damage.

Many were receiving treatment. Many where crocheting BABS (Bags of Acid Burn Survivors) which they sell for $4.00. http://www.cambodianacidsurvivorscharity.org/babs.html

Upstairs there were people sewing pressure garments to be worn while the tissue heals. They also need the work as there is a stigma with being an acid burn victim as they are rather distressing to see.

I met with the Doctor who also looks after their court cases to press charges against their perpetrators and also the Social Worker who tries to help with the psychological damage.

I spoke with the Project Manager Ziad, a young Australian guy who runs the place and talked about ways to help them raise funds as well as how to help in general.

There are so many ways.