PEDIATRIC CLINIC AND NUTRITION PROGRAM, Kandal, Cambodia

Name: PEDIATRIC CLINIC AND NUTRITION PROGRAM FOR MALNURISHED AND/OR HIV CHILDREN
Location: Asia / Cambodia / Kandal Province / Takhmao Chey Chumneas Hospital

   

Project Area Background:

Even though Cambodia has had several years of relative political stability and strong economic growth, 40% of its population still live below the poverty line, surviving on less than $1 a day. Poverty and malnutrition are more prevalent in the rural community’s children who constitute more than 50% of the the entire population of Cambodia population and maternal and infant mortality rates rank the highest in Cambodia. Some of the leading causes of childhood deaths are malnutrition and vaccine-preventable diseases, such as diarrhea and respiratory infections. In addition these children are needlessly vulnerable to accidental deaths from landmines, traffic accidents and drowning. One of the major problem is also growing HIV/AIDS epidemic. By 2003, roughly 250,000 people were infected and it is estimated that by 2015 HIV/AIDS will reduce their life expectancy by 7%. Currently 14,000 of the 77,000 HIV/AIDS affected orphans living in Cambodia, are HIV-positive. Their parents and other adults in their community infected with HIV/AIDS are too ill and too poor to take care of themselves and their children. As a result, these children need basic aid, medical and nutritional support.

Project Description:

Set up a local pediatric clinic and nutrition center in the rural community of Kandal province to reduce the areas high child and infant mortality rates.

• The clinic will provide the children with access to hospital care.

• The nutrition center will educate their families on nutrition and HIV/AIDS prevention.

• Nutrition center will significantly help reduce the number of children who need clinical support and proactively help to reduce their mortality rates. This is the ONLY SPECIALIZED NUTRITIONAL PROGRAM for the over 3 million people in the Kandal Province.

Project Goals:

A PEDIATRIC CLINIC:
• Treat the following diseases: HIV/AIDS, Malaria, Dengue fever, Tuberculosis, Severe malnutrition, Viral/Bacterial meningitis, Acute glomerulitis, Hemoglobinopathies, Nephrotic syndrome and Intestinal parasites.
• Equip with the clinic with monitoring machines: Pulsometry, Respiratory, Heart rate, Non-invasive blood pressure, EKG, X-ray and Ultrasound.
• Employ trained doctors, nurses and technicians.

A NUTRITIONAL PROGRAM:
• Train medical staff on nutrition and treatment protocols for malnourished children.
• Reduce high levels of malnutrion by improving the community’s health status.
• Significantly lower community’s mortality and morbidity rates.
• Educate mothers and community on nutrition.
• Eliminate iodine and vitamin A deficiencies and significantly reduce anemia.
• Provide regular follow-up care through Home Base Care program.
• Implement educational awareness campaign to identify existing successful programs in childcare, child feeding and health-seeking behavior practices.
• Establish and operate nutritional monitoring system through existing medical facility.

Project Beneficiaries:

• HIV/AIDS program –300 children
• Nutrition program – 200 children
• Home base care program – 150 children
• Out-patient – 2,400 children a year, 100 daily/240 days
• In –patient – 1,350 children a year15 permanent beds (One bed per patient for roughly 4 days; 3 beds for emergency room.

One-time Expenses:

• $59,500 – Initial investment to cover equipment and reconstruction fees.

Ongoing Expenses:

• $250,500 – Annual fees: medical, social, operation and staff salaries

Project NGO Partners:

• Magna Children at Risk