Importance of Healthcare Centres in Cambodia

There are 42 healthcare centres in Kampong Chhnang and WAH works directly with them to ensure that their patients receive safe and up to date patient care.

Unlike most developed nations, those who live in rural Cambodia depend on their local health centres. Health centres function as mini hospitals, minus the big surgical procedures. They are centralised and convenient to those living nearby, ensuring that the community has quick and trustworthy access.

Each health centre averages about 600 patients a month, and at least one birth a day. They function as a centre for minor injuries, diseases and ailments, non-complicated births, and general check ups. They carry very basic medical equipment and medicines.

Since WAH’s involvement in 2010, standards of hygiene, general cleanliness, and quality of care have increased tremendously. Combined with hygiene education, and training nurses and midwives through the emergency medical training programs, we have managed to drop the mortality rate by around 90% over 6 years.

By being involved in helping increase medical standards in the health centres, we are reaching out to a population of 550,000 people, and we are helping to drop the incidence of death and trauma across the whole province. Even the installation of clean water systems helps improve the health of the community. WAH is close to all 42 health centres, and have seen a huge improvement in medical standards, training, hygiene and general dedication of the staff to their jobs.