The past two days we found ourselves in Battambang- the city of the lost stick. Saturday was spent driving from Kampong Chhnang to Battambang with a free afternoon/night spent at the markets and relaxing. Sunday was an early morning start travelling through scenic corn and rice paddy fields. Travelling along the village roads was very interesting with various modes of transport. The motorbike is very resourceful mode of travel for people, transfers for animals and shopping, sometimes 4 to 5 people to a bike.
The Clinic was situated in an area which was previously a strong hold of the Khmer Rouge. Thousands of land mines were planted during the reign, and many still exist today, with the rainy season often causing the land mines to surface, causing severe injuries and sometimes death to the local residents.
The Iron cow was a very inventive and different type of transport but was used as stationary pharmacy at the clinic. It's always nice to see people who are so thankful for the little things that the team provided. So many pretty, smiling faces of the little ones who were only too happy to interact with the team. The team got to see so many unusual cases and sometimes very sad. Most of the people in the village work very hard in the rice and corn fields and its amazing how the still manage to work even when they are over 70 years old.
Health care is very expensive and some of the people have never been to a clinic or hospital even when it is urgently needed. A man had injured his eye with a rice husk 6 months ago and has now lost his vision in one eye. Lots of backaches and joint pain from working long hours in the farms. The team got to see people who were on treatment for typhoid, malaria and TB, and various other pathologies.
The afternoon after the clinic was exciting. Deb and I went to the food market and got to try local foods. There was a variety of local cuisine such as steamed fish in banana leaf, steamed eggs, beef with papaya salad and chicken noodles. We visited the Buddhist temple and had an interesting conversation with one of the local residents at the temple. Dinner at the White Rose restuarant was a smashing affair and then the heavy showers came down but still a splendid end to the evening.
From Shanila
The Clinic was situated in an area which was previously a strong hold of the Khmer Rouge. Thousands of land mines were planted during the reign, and many still exist today, with the rainy season often causing the land mines to surface, causing severe injuries and sometimes death to the local residents.
The Iron cow was a very inventive and different type of transport but was used as stationary pharmacy at the clinic. It's always nice to see people who are so thankful for the little things that the team provided. So many pretty, smiling faces of the little ones who were only too happy to interact with the team. The team got to see so many unusual cases and sometimes very sad. Most of the people in the village work very hard in the rice and corn fields and its amazing how the still manage to work even when they are over 70 years old.
Health care is very expensive and some of the people have never been to a clinic or hospital even when it is urgently needed. A man had injured his eye with a rice husk 6 months ago and has now lost his vision in one eye. Lots of backaches and joint pain from working long hours in the farms. The team got to see people who were on treatment for typhoid, malaria and TB, and various other pathologies.
The afternoon after the clinic was exciting. Deb and I went to the food market and got to try local foods. There was a variety of local cuisine such as steamed fish in banana leaf, steamed eggs, beef with papaya salad and chicken noodles. We visited the Buddhist temple and had an interesting conversation with one of the local residents at the temple. Dinner at the White Rose restuarant was a smashing affair and then the heavy showers came down but still a splendid end to the evening.
From Shanila