Cambodia – Signature

The Need

Our primary goal of this trip is to continue to help improve residents’ access to preventative care. Even today, more than 40 years after the end of the Khmer Rouge, the United Nations Millennium Project proclaimed that only 13 percent of the population visited health facilities last year, and 22.9 percent of children die before the age of 5. Since the Pol Pot and Khmer Rouge regimes completely decimated Cambodia’s health care system, this goal is not easy to meet. Many of the local doctors have received education in Western countries, but they still need IMR’s help to service all in-need populations. According to the World Health Organization, in 2013, there were only seven hospital beds for every 10,000 residents. As such, much of the care you provide at clinic will be for people who would have benefited from access to preventable care. At clinic, you will treat conditions related to malaria, intestinal parasites, cholera, diarrhea, tuberculosis, yaws, and measles. You will also help treat conditions of more severe diseases, including tuberculosis and the avian flu.

You and the rest of the volunteer team will also educate locals on how to stay healthy and how to care for their loved ones. One of the main focuses of this mission is dentistry. Because all community members are encouraged to attend, the demand for dental care will be high. Another main focus of this mission is women’s healthcare. We will provide general women’s and infant care, as well as strengthen the knowledge and skills of the local midwives.

Our Work

International Medical Relief began serving Cambodia in 2012 and has since completed medical projects involving more than 750 volunteers and staff to serve over 25,000 patients. Our goal is to complete three projects annually in different areas and communities in Cambodia providing community health training, medical treatments, medical supplies and equipment, and clinic operations. Provinces we have worked in include Phnom Penh, Pursat, Siem Reap, Battambang, Sihanoukville, Kampong Thom, Prey Veng, Svay Rieng and Kampong Cham. 

With diligent planning and preparation, IMR is dedicated to ensuring that specific goals are met on our missions, each in correlation to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 3, 6, and 17.

IMR works to elevate vulnerable populations through shoulder-to-shoulder care with our local partners, creating workforce density, and a cadre of future healthcare and public health leaders in association to UNSDG 3: Good Health & Wellbeing. 

Our medical mission teams also work toward UNSDG 6: Clean Water & Sanitation by supporting and strengthening the participation of local communities in improving their water quality, and installing water filtration systems that supply communities with clean drinking water and providing education on hydration and hygiene.

In correlation with UNSDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals, our organization works in collaboration and at the request of local hosts where we are under their direct influence and affluence. IMR never goes into a country without a formal invitation where there is a great community need for medical or dental care, and health education.

This Mission

Cambodia, home to nearly 15 million people, is one of the most charming countries in all of Asia. From an outsider’s first glance, its pristine golden beaches, tranquil rice paddies, lush jungle landscapes, and vibrant sunsets over the world’s largest religious structure are the allure of this country. Take a deeper look and learn that it is the Khmer people that ultimately comprise its unique draw. Cambodia’s tragic history defined by decades of political unrest, violence, and poverty has shaped an inspiringly optimistic and warm population. As a visitor, it is a powerful experience to feel the serenity from the magnificent Cambodian landscapes in harsh contrast to the magnitude of strife previously endured. This poignant intersection of a painful past and developing present leaves no visitor untouched.

International Medical Relief is partnering with Cambodia on a major goal of the country: to improve access to healthcare and preventative education to health conditions. This is no easy task – during the bloody regime of Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge, the health care system as a whole was decimated, with virtually no doctors left in the country at the end of the regime. 

Even today, more than 40 years after the end of the Khmer Rouge, the United Nations Millennium Project proclaimed that only 13 percent of the country visited health facilities last year, and 22.9 percent of children die before the age of 5. Treatable diseases like malaria, intestinal parasites, cholera, diarrhea, tuberculosis, and yaws, as well as vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles are endemic and claim lives everyday. The situation is improving as a whole healthcare is almost nonexistent among the populations that IMR serves including the poor, migrant workers, unregistered population, and ethnic minorities.

Lodging/Transportation

The accommodations for the Signature trip are at a 4-star hotel with plenty of amenities to make your stay in Cambodia comfortable and enjoyable. During your stay in Phnom Penh, you will love the bustle of the city and the wide variety of cuisine. The Russian Market and many palaces are within walking distance of your hotel.  Want to shop and eat?  Head to the busy Russian Market for some evening free time!

All transportation to and from the clinic has been arranged for you. Professional drivers, safe vehicles, and security are some of the many reasons to join IMR on a trip.  Don’t nap – there’s a lot to see in the valleys and hills surrounding your home away from home this week!

Highlights

One of the many highlights on this trip is the variety of locations your team will work in – from Buddhist temples to small libraries, schools to churches, you will see many different aspects of life in Cambodia.  Our relationships with the government, medical schools, and youth community groups are very strong in Cambodia; this trip will allow you to work side-by-side with local government officials, medical students, nursing students, dental students, and more.

On your free day in Phnom Penh, you and the team will have opportunities to visit the Royal Palace, take a river tour, and see the Killing Fields of the Khmer Rouge. Be prepared to immerse yourself in this incredible culture and learn about the recent history of Cambodia that many of your patients will not have read about it, but instead, lived it. Your ability to care for these patients will be deeply meaningful.

Be prepared to immerse yourself in this incredible culture and learn about the recent history of Cambodia that many of your patients will not have read about it, but instead, lived it. Your ability to care for these patients will be deeply meaningful.

Extend Your Stay

Since you are already venturing across the globe, have you considered extending your stay by a few days to see Cambodia’s top tourist destinations? Did you know IMR offers an exclusive three-day extension to its volunteers? By continuing your trip and exploring off the beaten path, you will give yourself more time to visit Cambodia’s beaches, mountains, waterfalls, temples, and markets.

Of all the incredible little trips you can take, our top recommendation is a sunset visit to Angkor Wat. While you are out, be sure you venture over to a beach bar to appreciate local nightlife and the glow-in-the-dark plankton. Moreover, if you are an adventurer at heart, you can take a nighttime snorkeling trip along the shores.

If you are more of a foodie and less of a wanderer, Cambodia is home to many local chefs who offer cooking classes. Alternatively, you can order “a-ping,” which is a local favorite. Though undoubtedly unique, you can find these deep-fried tarantulas in sit-down restaurants or the marketplace.

You can view the exclusive IMR extensions here! For additional information, please contact our preferred travel agency, Worldwide Navigators. Their team of experienced agents and travelers is available via email at travel@worldwidenavigators.com or phone at (970) 633-3033.

Itinerary at a Glance