Dusty roads and Health Centres

I am currently in the middle of a programme of midwifery skill drills for the Health centre Midwives.

Last Thursday, my VA Channa, and I set off by ferry to cross the Sekong and Mekong Rivers to Thala district at 7 am. We then had a one and a half hour motorbike journey North along rough brown roads to the Preah Romkel Health Centre on the West banks of the Mekong.

Three midwives were waiting for us and we set up our teaching session in the labour roomwhich has a beautiful view across the river.

First I tested them on the post partum haemorrhage drill they learnt last time – they remembered it very well. Next we went through breech birth with each midwife practicing the drill using the models sent out by kind people from the UK- Thank you again.

The midwives seem to enjoy this practical style of teaching- they say they have never learnt techniques to cope with problem breech births.

After the session we sat down to biscuits and a can of juice and now that they know me better they ask questions:

Can the soft lumps on a baby’s head at birth cause brain damage?

 Can I teach them how to suture after childbirth?

- I find this is a very positive step.

At midday we drove 3 Km further up the Mekong to the dolphin observation area but the dolphins were all a long way out or sleeping- not leaping out of the water in front of us anyway.

Next I was back on the motorbike for a further one and a half hours of potholes, dust and dodgy bridges.

We crossed back to Stung Treng on the ferry along with various livestock -this chicken had its legs tied together but kept flapping its wings too close to me for my liking.

I arrived home mid afternoon desperate for a shower and late siesta.

Stung Treng Airport

Yes Stung Treng has an Airport though when a plane last landed, I do not know.

Angela outside Airport building

Today it is a fairly quiet place awaiting its next role in the story of Cambodia. I like to go there on my bicycle for a ride in the evening before it goes dark. From the house it is about 20 mins ride and the same back by a circular route.

Control tower

I’m told it used to be the first place VSO Volunteers saw when they arrived in Stung Treng by plane as the roads used to be nonexistent or too dangerous to travel from Phnom Penh to Stung Treng.

The Runway

Friends in the Military visiting recently said it would still be possible to land large military planes there, I thought there was too much loose gravel about but apparently it’s OK.

Angela cycling down the runway

Most facilities are still there although on a small scale i.e. a little Control tower, small waiting room? Departure area etc.

Windsock

The airport resides at an elevation of 203 feet (62 m) above mean sea level. It has one runway designated 02/20 with an asphalt surface measuring 1,295 by 21 metres (4,249 × 69 ft).^[1]

Follow this Link it looks nothing like that!:

http://www.flightstats.com/go/Airport/airportDetails.do?airportCode=TNX

AERODROME FACILITIES
Facility		Dimension,m	Surface	Strength
Runway		1300=(1170x29+130x20)	Bitumen	50 tones
RWY shoulder			Grass	N/A
RWY strips		1420x150	Grass	N/A
RWY End Safety Area	02	60x60	Grass	N/A
	20	150x60	Grass	N/A
Taxiway		135x18	Bitumen	50 tones
				50 tones
TWY shoulder			Grass	N/A
Apron		150x80 | 3 stands	Bitumen	50 tone

 Departure Lounge

Control tower

It's a nice place to go, a feeling of space and being quiet.

Will we ever see an airoplane there? Who knows possibly, a Helicopter.