Kampong Trabek Referral Hospital

Prey Veng province, Cambodia

Venerable Yos Hut Khemacaro
(on site, in Cambodia)
Standing Advisor for Hospital Operations
Wat Lanka
PHNOM PENH
Cambodia
Project Executive Agent

Tél. / Fax : 00 855 (23) 721 001


Keywords: Cambodia, Khmer, Kampuchea, NGO, humanitarian

Version francaise

After 20 years of a devastating war in Cambodia, everything must be started over from the beginning: infrastructure, school and health care facilities, etc. People's mentality must be changed as well (knowledge and new ideas, creativity). The needs are both many and great, but assistance is only effective if it is accompanied by social and educational development.

Pursuant to the directives of the Ministry of Health, we feel that Kampong Trabek must have a health care center up to contemporary standards. The center has been designated as "Referral Hospital".

The center is under the juridiction of Cambodian Ministry of Health, with management supervision provided by the Prey Veng Provincial Health Direction. The Ministry looks after staff assignments and provide some basic medication, etc. although we fully realize that they, too, are confronted with financial constraints.

We established contact with NGOs and other international organizations to request their assistance (training personel, drugs, equipment, etc.) We are also being helped by private donors whose participation is very previous to us.

Any form of support for this public health program would be greatly appreciated.

In particular, endowing the center with not only basic materials and drugs (in particular, antibiotics) but also HEAVY EQUIPMENT (radiology, surgical tools, echography, anesthesia, life support, cardiology, laboratory, incinerator, computers, photocopy machines,monitoring, autoclave, etc.) is of utmost importance.

Any volonteer interested in helping perform surgical operations in our hospital is most welcome. The following domains are in dire needs of help :

If you would like to visit the Referral Hospital, or to consider making a contribution, please contact Venerable Yos Hut Khemacaro at Wat Langka, Phnom Penh, or see our contacts in France.

Last updated: April 2007

  • Introduction to Prey Veng province
  • Background of health care provisions
  • Needs and priorities
  • Planning
  • Acknowledgments
  • Contacts in France


    Your visitor number, since 4/13/97, is given below:

    Introduction to Prey Veng Province

    The Prey Veng province is located east of Mekong river, about 90 km south-east of the capital city, Phnom Penh, towards the border with Vietnam.

    · Land area : 4,883 km2
    · Population : 946,042 (1998 census data).

    The Prey Veng province, with the third highest population figure in Cambodia, after Kampong Cham, and Kandal, as well as the capital city, has 12 districts (or "srok").

    Kampong Trabek is a district in the province of Prey Veng, on National Road 1 which goes on to Vietnam through the province of Svay Rieng. National Road 1 is 166 km long, and Kampong Trabek is 86 km out of Phnom Penh, located at the junction of National Road 1 and the Kampong Trabek river. It has 13 counties (or "khum").

    Population: 113,694 inhabitants (1995 figure), of whom 52.9 percent are female, broken down as follows (1994 figures):



    Age Number
    0 to 12 months
    1 to 5 years
    6 to 14 years
    more than 15 years

    Total (1994)     		2,387 = 2.1 %
    16,486 = 14.5 %
    30,925 = 27.2 %
    63,896 = 56.2 %

    113,694

    That is:

    . 0 to 15 years : 49,798 inhab. (43.8 %)
    . Number of women of child-bearing age (15-45 years): 26,630
    . Number of pregnant women during the year : 2,842

    NB: The actual population of Kampong Trabek is 106,555, but a commune of 7,139 inhabitants from a neighbouring district has been put into the Kampong Trabek operational district for purposes of health coverage.

    Transportation thoroughfares: mainly National Road 1 and small roads leading to Vietnam or to the interior of the province. N.R.1 length is 166 km.

    Location of Kampong Trabek (see map):

    . 93 km from Phnom Penh
    . 33 km from Neak Loeung, on Mekong river (ferryboat crossing 60 km out of Phnom Penh)
    . 63 km from the main center of the province of Prey Veng
    . 28 km from the main center of the province of Svay Rieng
    . 23 km from the border with Vietnam to the south

    N.B.: A distance of 50 km is very far in Cambodia because of road conditions, means of transportation available and the poverty affecting the population at large.

    The standard of living of the population is very low. The region has been hit by food shortages for many years, with alternating drought and flooding, which only worsen the problem of overpopulation.

    Background of health care provisions

    Up to the present time, Kampong Trabek had only an antiquated infirmary station with no rooms or functional areas. The medical staff was made up of a doctor and a few assistants. Basic medication and supplies were inadequate. There was no laboratory.

    The center could only provide consultations of a general practitioner nature, totally inadequate for the needs of population.

    In view of prevailing health conditions among the population, it became necessary and urgent to increase the number of consultations that could be handled by setting up more adequate facilities.

    Most common pathologies are:

    · gastro-enteritis
    · haemorrhagic fever
    · bronchial pneumonia
    · tuberculosis (no routine screening, which should normally be a priority in the country, although the WHO provides some drugs to alleviate this)
    · etc.

    Severely sick patients are evacuated to Neak Loeung, or Phnom Penh, since travel on the road to the main provincial center was more difficult. Officially, the province of Svay Rieng is not supposed to take patients evacuated from Prey Veng, unless the patient comes in personally. Evacuating a sick person by private car is very expensive for families.

    Needs and priorities

    As of now, we are discussing with NGO and other international organizations to get support (additional staff, education, basic drugs, etc.), while being well aware that their means are also limited.

    It is furthermore a matter of importance that the hospital be able to acquire basic equipment, as well as equipment for major health care (radiology, surgical, ultrasound, anesthesia, intensive care, cardiology, laboratory equipment, computers, photocopy machines, etc.). Any assistance that could be given to us would be deeply appreciated, in view of the growing needs of the population. Please check the detailled list of sollicited medical equipment (in French).

    Our first building, the Health Care Center, the initial phase of our developments (out-patient clinical care, provisional maternity, mother and child care, family planning, vaccination, dentists, etc.) is operational since October 1996.

    The second building (44 meters long, two stories high) is already begin used: maternity room, general medecine, meeting room, housing, infant and adult hospitalizations. During the first six months of 1999, an operating room, as well as X-ray and ultrasound units (September 1999) were phased in, as the equipment became available. Total construction cost came to $166,000.

    The annexes (intendance, workshop, garage, kitchen and laundry facilities) have been used since 1996.

    This center has now become a genuine "Referral Hospital" status.

    The third building, for tuberculosis, with a length of 46.50 meters, being also of emergency importance, got its operational status in March 1998. The cost was $70.000.

    Another building (Building E) became operational in August 1999, at a cost of $45,000.

    We have an equipped ambulance vehicle ($25.000 with tax exemption). However, in view of a rapid increase in needs, a second ambulance would be a welcome addition.

    Moreover, we direly need a small truck (for various transportation activities) and a mortuary vehicle for transfers to the crematorium facilities.

    As of late 1999, total cost for these facilities (health care center, hospital, tuberculosis building and annexes, contribution to operating costs, etc.) amounted to $800,000.

    We expect this center to eventually offer at least 150 beds. The departments of this hospital would serve a population of at least, and constantly increasing, 200,000, not only from our own district, but neighboring districts as well: the government plan calls for 1 hospital bed for every 1,000 people.

    Electrical facilities include the following:

    . generator: one 60kVA + one 20 kVA (equipment and installation provided by Club CODEV de Bugey)
    . solar panels: the center now has 20 solar panels for lighting and refrigeration (blood bank and vaccines)
    . electrical network within buildings (Club CODEV de Bugey)

    The drinkable water supply installation was also completed, including a boosted compressor (Club CODEV de Bugey).

    At last, for administration and management purposes, we would like to get 3 computers, with their associated printers. A copier would also be useful, as would be radios to connect our medical team with other health centers and hospitals.

    At this time, donations have enabled us to implement the first and second phases. To bring all the planned construction to completion, we absolutely require financing, logistic support and advice.

    Any form of support would be deeply appreciated.

    Planning

    Work began back in March 1996, and the first building began operating on October 1, 1996 (health care center). It is 40 meters in length and has 13 rooms, along with toilet and shower facilities.

    The central hallway and main corridor are used as a waiting area. The hospital has a staff of 50 persons (6 in-house doctors, medical assistants, dentists, lab technicians, midwives, nurses, ward personnel and guards).

    This site is thus already in part operational, as shown for instance in these monthly reports for the surgical unit, covering the 05/25/1999-10/05/1999 period. Of course, there is much left to be done.

    The cost of putting up this building and annexes (water tower, kitchen, 80 x 170 m fence, as well as start-up equipment) came to 90,000 US dollars.

    1. Stage I

    Building A - HEALTH CARE CENTER (operational since 10/1996):

    . Out-patient consulting
    . Family planning
    . Laboratory
    . Blook bank
    . Vaccines
    . Pharmacy
    . Emergencies (temporary until Building C is built)
    . Water tower
    . Administration

    2. Stage II

    Building B - HOSPITAL (operational since 03/1998):

    . Maternity
    . Children/adults hospitalization (60 beds)
    . Minor surgery
    . Dental care
    . Operating room
    . X-Ray unit
    . Ultrasound unit
    . Conference and study room
    . Library
    . Accomodation for training staff

    Building D - TUBERCULOSIS 32 beds (operational since 03/1998)

    Annexes (operational since 03/1998):

    . Kitchen, laundry and custodial facilities
    . Garage
    . Workshop
    . Motorcycle and bicycle shed
    . Parking
    . Sewage holding tank
    . Electrical generator builing
    . Morgue and associated garage

    Batiment E (operational since 06/1999)

    . Medication
    . Medical equipment and supplies
    . Staff housing
    . Rooms for instructors
    . Staff canteen

    3. Stage III (planning stage)

    Building C (contingent upon availability of funding):

    . Emergencies - 2nd operating block - ENT - Ophtamology
    . Hospitalizations (expansion of 40 beds)
    . Lounge for patients and visitors (with audio-visual facilities for health education)

    Acknowledgements

    For their help, assistance and advice, which we already took great advantage of, we want to warmly thank the following private donors and institutions:

    . Officials of the Cambodian Government

    and:

    . Australian Red Cross (Phnom Penh branch)
    . Bretagne Regional Council (France)
    . Bretagne-Cambodia Solidarity
    . Bugey CODEV Club (France)
    . Calmette Hospital (Phnom Penh)
    . Cambodian Pharmacist and Student Association (France)
    . Cambodian Physician Association (France)
    . Objectif Cambodge Association (France)
    . Cambodian Red Cross
    . France-Toulouse-Cambodge Association (France)
    . Franco-Cambodian Committee of Méditérannée (Nice, France)
    . French Embassy in Cambodia
    . French Hospital Funds of Malta Order (France)
    . French Red Cross (Phnom Penh, France)
    . Humanitarian Medical Logistics Association (Marseille, France)
    . Ille et Vilaine Regional Council (France)
    . Khmer Assocation of Ille et Vilaine (France)
    . MEDICAM (Phnom Penh)
    . Need You (French workers in Japan)
    . Preah Sihanouk Hospital Center of HOPE, Phnom Penh
    . Rennes Municipality (France)
    . Rhone-Alpes Regional Council (France)
    . Rouen CODEV Club (France)
    . Smile Association (Toulouse, France)
    . US Embassy in Cambodia

    and all our faithful and generous friends from Cambodia, France, Australia, United States and other countries.

     

    Contacts in France

    Vénérable Yos Hut Khemacaro (when in Paris)
    Président de la Fondation bouddhique khmère
    12 bis, rue de la Liberté
    92 220 Bagneux
    Tél. : 01 46 63 57 17
    Fax : 01 45 47 58 00

    Madame Ch. Gervot
    32, rue du Général Leclerc
    92130 Issy-les-Moulineaux

    Docteur Sokkhaing Saur, Chairman
    Solidarité Bretagne-Cambodge
    2, Square des Grisons
    35200 Rennes
    Tél. Home. : 02 99 52 25 02
    Mobile : 06 1729 0632 or 06 6293 3728
    Fax : 02 99 50 83 29
    E-mail: Sokkhaing.SAUR@wanadoo.fr
    Postal Checking Account: Rennes 5435 - 43E (mention "Hopital de Kampong Trabek")
    Technical advisor

    For more information on this Web page, contact Pierre Jouvelot .