John Gibbs posted on April 21, 2011 08:34
The following report has been submitted from Ms Thida Yang, Volunteer and committee secretary;
We are busy planning the 2011 trip to Kampot Province (southern part of Cambodia) after a great success last year. In 2010 we went to the same province and scanned over 800 patients and operated on 220, (which was 10% above our target). We also visited two local schools recommended by the then Secretary of Rotary Phnom Penh in Kampot and Kep and provided 36 reading glasses to primary students and their parents.
We were invited back this year due to the great demand. We also plan to bus in patients from Kampong Spue province but we do not know how this will work out as it is a long way (3 ½ hrs drive).
Since returning from Cambodia last year, Cambodia Vision has met with delegates from Cambodia twice. They were eye doctors and administrators in Cambodia including the head of the National Eye Health. They were very welcoming of Cambodia Vision work.
This year the planned trip period is between 30 July and 8 August.
We are planning to leave Sydney on 30 July and make our way to Kampot the following day on 31 July. We will commence operating from 1 August. Our target has increased from 200 to 300 operations this year. We seem to have spread our reputations and local doctors are enthusiastic to join us as well.
At present, we envisage that we would have about 20 volunteers including 4-5 surgeons, a GP, anesthetists, scrub nurses, optometrists and support staff.