Mobile Dental and Medical Service for Rural Disadvantaged Cambodians

It is well known that many Cambodians, especially those living in rural areas, have little or no access to basic medical and dental services.  Poor oral health can have significant effects on both quality of life and general health.  People with poor oral health can suffer from pain and infections, have difficulty eating and speaking, be embarrassed about their appearance, spend a large amount of money on treatment, and find it more difficult to find employment.  People with gum disease have been found to have a greater risk of cardiovasular disease, diabetes, stroke and low birth-weight babies.

Within the Cambodian community there are a number of particularly vulnerable groups who are the target groups for this project.  These include: children in rural orphanages; adults and children who have been forcibly relocated to the outskirts of Phnom Penh or rural areas where there is no access to good housing, jobs, schooling, and medical, dental and other services; rural disabled adults and children; rural families where one or both parents are HIV positive people; single parent families.  This project aims to take basic medical and dental services to help these groups.  Building on their experiences in establishing the Prison Dental Service, KAD wishes to set up a MOBILE Dental and Medical Service by purchasing a basic set of medical and dental equipment, instruments and supplies, and sending a medical/dental team to the provinces on a regular basis.  A new team of volunteers will be established to provide these services including KAD personnel, and volunteer dentists, dental students, dental assistants, doctors, nurses and medical students. 

Orphanages and Non Government Organizations (NGOS) working with the target groups were identified, and approached concerning the purpose and availability of the MOBILE.  Depending on the number of adults and children at each location, and the distance from Phnom Penh, visits of one to five days will be planned.  The team traveled by rental van or bus, taking with them the portable dental and medical equipment and supplies.  German Embassy funding didn’t cover the expenses for travel, accommodation, and food for the team of volunteers.  There was least one “MOBILE” each month.  Over the one year period, 2-3000 needy people received health assessments, and medical and dental care.  Medical care includes: deworming, lice and scabies treatment, immunizations, health education (including basic hygiene and sexual health), and the provision of medications for common ailments. Dental care includes extraction of teeth, dental restorations, root canal treatment (on anterior teeth), scaling, fissure sealants, and oral health education.   Mothers of young children were a particular focus as they had an important influence on the health of the whole family.  As in the Prison Dental Service, strict cross-infection control procedures were put in place, and toothbrushes and toothpaste provided to reinforce the education given.