Medical care for vulnerable children in Cambodia

In the poorest provinces of Cambodia malnutrition, disease and lack of education are widespread. Yearly flooding and droughts, as well as the lack of job opportunities, force many families to migrate to the main cities. Because of their poor and unstable living conditions, children from these families are at risk of being trafficked, becoming substance abusers or being victims of violence. The organization, Goutte d'eau/Damnok Toek has been supporting vulnerable children and their families in Cambodia since 1997. In three different locations (Poipet, Neak Loeung and Phnom Penh) the organization is taking care of more than 800 children per day with the support of up to 100 employees and three technical advisors.

Despite recent improvements, a majority of poor Cambodians don’t have access to quality health facilities. Unable to pay for public health services or private clinics, vulnerable families and their children suffer due to the inaccessibility of healthcare. To face expenses related to unexpected diseases, many families go deep into debt, and the children often end up having to work on the streets or being sold to traffickers.

Medical clinics in Poipet and Neak Loeung

With clinics in Poipet and in Neak Loeung, Goutte d’Eau provides basic medical care for children attending its drop-in, permanent daycare and special care center as well as for children from neighboring communities. Carrying out several thousand consultations a year, two doctors have been essential in the rehabilitation, recovery and protection of vulnerable children in the areas around Neak Loeung and Poipet. They give general advice about healthcare and provide basic treatment for several diseases. More severe cases are referred to other health facilities throughout the country. Goutte d’Eau works together with several healthcare NGOs and government institutions. In addition to normal services, the doctors engage in raising awareness about various illnesses for families living in and around Neak Loeung and Poipet.

Since the opening of the clinics in Neak Loeung (in 1997) and Poipet (in 1999), the amount of children attending Goutte d’Eau’s medical services has continually increased. Since 2007, the Novartis Foundation for Sustainable Development has been supporting the healthcare activities of Goutte d’eau. With the foundation’s support, the project was able to continue the activities of its two clinics supporting vulnerable children and their families, to renew the facilities of the clinic and to provide patients with better medical care. For the approximately 800 children attending one of Goutte d’eau’s projects, medical care is free of charge. External patients pay a symbolic amount of 500 riel (0.12 USD) per consultation including medication.

Center for children with special needs

Due to the lack of long term shelters in Cambodia for physically and mentally disabled children, Goutte d’eau managed to open a center for children with special needs in Phnom Penh in 2003. In December 2008, 27 children and adolescents lived in this center, which provides an environment for improving the children’s social skills and abilities. The project has succeeded in having some of the children with less severe disabilities integrated into public school, where they can participate in normal education. In order to deal even better with the needs of mentally disabled children, Goutte d’eau has hired new specialized educators with various backgrounds, such as physiotherapists, nurses, psychologists and teachers. Access to specialized trainings was made possible thanks to the support from the Novartis Foundation. All the staff of the project was provided with specific training, allowing them to better deal with the children’s needs. Furthermore, several external experts came to the center to share their knowledge with the project staff.

Summary of results achieved in the period from June 2008 to May 2009:

• 8,602 consultations for internal and external patients
• Renovation and improvement of the two medical clinics
• Education and training for approx. 450 vulnerable children
• Vaccinations for 260 children and dental care for 70 children
• 5259 school meals for children