Our first morning started with a quick brekky. We boarded 2 vans and travelled out to Sarorns Village in the outer Province of Phnom Penh.
Word was out weeks prior to our arrival and over 300 patients made their way to the clinic which we quickly set up at the primary school.
The nurses stations were kept very busy throughout the day while pharmacy worked to keep up with demand. I was personally very moved when witnessing the care and attention each nurse gave (through their enterpreteur) while diagnosing ànd treating their patients as they presented. It was very warming and I felt priviliged to be a apart of it. The morning flew by and we broke for lunch where we were taken to the Village Elders family home, where we were treated to chicken, fish and rice and duck omelet.
During the course of the afternoon our youngest team member, Claudia (who turns 18 on the trip) tok a break from pharmacy to grab her camera. Claudia is a a keen photographer and has a good eye for candid shots.... After taking a photo of a small group of children, she became the Pied Piper after showing them the pictures of themselves taken on her camera. What a glorious sight children gathered around her from every corner with laughter and giggles all round.
Our afternoon continued in the same busy manner and the highlight for me was dispensing glasses and watching faces 'light up' when they could actually see the lines on their hands or the leaves on the trees in the distance. Their was one particular old man who made my eyes well, when I finally found a pair of glasses for him where he could look up and actually see. He touched my face and gave me the biggest, toothless smile then hastily walked to the window and looked out at the trees with such excitement and disbelief at what he could actually see.......The warmth and gratitude shown was very heartwarming.
After the clinic ended the children returned to their classroom which gave us the opportunity to give each child their own toothbrush, toothpaste and cake of soap. They were so excited. We also presented the teacher with books and stationery. All were gratefullly accepted. Smiles all round.....
Blogged by karen