Mud and Midwives!

So what is going on with the VSO work I came out to Cambodia to do?

Last week my VA Thol and I arranged to go out to the remote health centre at Chankaleu in the west of the province. It’s the rainy season here at present but the Health centre chief assured us the road was still passable.

First we drove along the Mekong River bank to the ferry port.

Photo of the ferry just arriving at the port.

Then with motorbike safely loaded we crossed the Mekong River and set off on a 30k journey.

Photo of Thol on the Ferry -it leaves when there are a minimum of 3 motos on it.

The road started as a rough gravel surface which rapidly deteriorated into mud and streams. I must have jumped off and pushed about 20times, dragging the motorbike(moto) out of muddy streams or more often walking round while Thol paddled through with the moto.

Photo: Yes this is the road!-Now I need to find a way across.

Almost 3 hours later we crossed the final stream and arrived covered in mud and wet up to my knees at the tiny wood shack –the Health Centre where about 20 women a month give birth.

Photo: Chankaleu Health Centre

The four amazing young midwives who cover the Health centre 24/7 were pleased to see us and we then had a teaching session on Haemorrhage, Shoulder Dystocia (when the head is born but the shoulders get stuck)and recognising infection in the newborn. They then made us lunch of Fried egg, Omelette and rice –I think this was because I’m a foreigner and might not like Khmer food.  Then it was back to the mud and wet road for 3 hours home again.  I did wonder if it had been wise setting off in the rainy season but then what do the women in labour who need to transfer to the hospital do? They take the same road of course on the back of a motorbike too.  I also thought it might help avoid a transfer if the midwives are well trained in emergencies.

Later the same week, two hospital midwives and me again ran the same full day workshop as in June on Helping babies live. (Previous post) This time an amazing 27 different midwives turned up instead of just 14 last time which was great.

Photo: midwives practicing resuscitation.

Then last week I had another much easier trip to Kompun Health Centre 20k away and did skill drills again.

Photo of the lovely Kompun midwives with Thol joining in the skill drills for Shoulder dystocia.

Photo  Health Centre grounds complete with local buffalo that wandered in followed by kids.

After the drill we sat and chatted; one of them told me that last year they had a baby where the shoulders got stuck. They didn’t know what to do so transferred her to the hospital where the doctor managed to deliver the baby. The baby had a paralysed arm (a side effect of poorly managed shoulder dystocia) and died after two days. They said they did not know what to do to help get the shoulders out –they had never been taught before. They have asked me to go and teach suturing next time.

After that I stayed working with staff on the ward –two health twin girls were born at 1.8kg each the midwives gave them lots of advice about feeding and keeping warm and I gave them a cardi each, for the nights, that my friend Pauline brought out from England –thanks to all the knitters!

Photo –Twins in Cardis!