We had many Japanese volunteers, especially Medical volunteers, stayed with us this March.

With a group of medical students from Okayama University, we provided a lecture on how to utilize natural resources or locally available resources into emergency treatment. This kind of skill and knowledge are very useful if you work at a place where there is no proper medical facilities nearby or very limited medical resources. It is also useful if you need to provide first aid at emergency scene. These medical students, who are interested in working in developing countries, listened the lecture very enthusiastically and seem enjoyed a lot.

CDEP (The Cambodian Dormitory and Education Project) aim at performing "Sustainable Development with Appropriate Technology". Utilization of locally available resources into emergency treatment (especially in the field) is one of our big interests. We would like to welcome any medical students and experts who are willing to explore this topic together.

[Photo 1: Utilizing Banana Tree to Treat Wound and Fracture in Emergency 1]

[Photo 2: Utilizing Banana Tree to Treat Wound and Fracture in Emergency 2]

[Photo 3: Carrying Banana Tree]

[Photo 4: Enjoying Cambodian Curry with Village Children]

We also had a medical student from Nihon University who is about to start his internship as Medical Doctor soon visited Graphis Health Center for 2 days. 2 days may not long enough for him to understand our activity here but we hope it was a good first introduction for him to see medical activity in Cambodia. It is always our pleasure to receive foreign young students and experts visit. It is often a start of long term friendship with them.

[Photo 5: Volunteers Chatting in an Evening]

Also, Japanese Student Medical NGO "GRAPHIS", who has been supporting Graphis Health Center from the beginning organized a group volunteer stay this March. In the group, there were 2 Medical Doctors and 1 Nurse. These medical experts used to visit Graphis Health Center as students. It was really wonderful moment to see these former students as young experts this time! Many GRAPHIS students have volunteered at Graphis Health Center in these 2 years. We look forward to seeing them coming back here as young experts in the near future.

Dr. Hibino, another young doctor also came as volunteer for 3 days. She heard about our health center from a GRAPHIS member. Our activity seems started being recognized by many Japanese! This March was like "Japanese Month" since there were Japanese volunteers and visitors only!

[Photo 6: Two Doctors Examining a Patient Blood Sample]

[Photo 7: GRAPHIS Volunteers Cleaning the Health Center]

[Photo 8: GRAPHIS Volunteers Practicing Recorder to Teach at Primary School]

The traffic accident on 27^th September was a car hit a motorbike. 2 people on the motorbike severely injured. One got broken arm, the other got broken leg. Both of them are compound fracture. We transport them to Calmette Hospital in Phnom Penh.

It was almost mid night when the ambulance returned to the Graphis Health Center. After the response, inside of the ambulance was full of blood and ambulance crews needed to stop at the Side by Side International's Phnom Penh office to clean up the car.

Yesterday, 28^th September started as relatively quiet day. Some children came with their parents to get vaccination in the morning. Graphis Health Center staff took care of a long-term inpatient. Clean hear wound, wipe her body, help her eating breakfast. It looked a quiet day.

Around 16:00, a van arrived at Graphis Health Center. A family transported a diabetes lady. She was almost unconscious, having short of breath. Her blood pressure was so high that our machine could not measure it. She had very severe wound on her left leg due to the diabetes. According to her family, she had been quite sick for about 6 months but never been to any other hospital. The family drove her over 120 km from Phnom Penh to Graphis Health Center.

It was very unfortunately too late to save her. Her body reaction shows her internal organs are destroyed already. Around 20:00, we explained to the family members that they should prepare for the last moment.

In Cambodia, people rarely die at hospitals but at home. When patients reach to the last stage, family take patient back home, call monks for a ceremony. For this diabetes lady's case, her home is in Kompong Cham Province, which is too far to transport from Graphis Health Center. We suggested the family to hold a ceremony at the health center.

We prepared tents and necessary tools to hold the ceremony. We invite local monks to Graphis Health Center. Around 21:00, monks arrived and we started the ceremony. At 00:05 this morning, sent by Buddhist chant and with attendance of our medical staff, the lady passed away.

After the family decided to hold the ceremony, we concentrate our medical care to minimizer her pain. We really wish the lady had the peaceful last moment, physically and mentally.

This morning around 06:00, the family departed from Graphis Health Center. They really appreciate our treatment and service for these 2 days.

Graphis Health Center goes back to the normal operation and prepare for the next emergency.

Cambodia is now celebrating one of their biggest Buddhist holiday, called "Pchum Ben". Lots of people head back to their provinces to celebrate with their family and relatives. As a result, the number of accident along national roads increases rapidly during this period. Graphis Health Center together with Side By Side International are standing by for preparing traffic accidents along National Road No.4.

Yesterday, Director of Graphis Health Center's car was hit by a car which came over to the opposite lane. Fortunately there was none got injured.

Today around 15:00, Graphis Health Center got an emergency call. A car which was visiting nearby water fall collapsed. Our ambulance responded immediately. 2 serious casualties from this accident and they are now on the way to a national hospital in Phnom Penh by our ambulance.

We really wish people drive more carefully so that enjoyable holiday won't turn out tragedy.

Graphis Health Center received an automated hematology analyzer, KX-21 (Sysmex) as a donation from Rotary International District 2660 Japan and Phnom Penh Rotary Club.

The machine was shipped from Japan, passed through customs clearance, and on 2^nd May 2011 the machine arrived at Graphis Health Center.

Additionally, Sysmex dispatched its technician to install the machine and provided two days usage training to our staff.  To receive such  technically advanced and expensive equipment, the health center staff in attendance took this usage training very seriously..

Prior to receiving this machine, Graphis Health Center always had to send blood samples to a lab in Phnom Penh to be analyzed. Phnom Penh is located about 120kilometers away from Graphis Health Center and it takes on average 3days to receive results from these routine tests.  In the past, this process has been a barrier to providing timely quality health care for a poor patient who often comes from far away and spends their limited money for transportation and treatment. For these patients,  it is difficult for them to return  several days later in order to receive their blood exam results.

Now with the hematology analyzer on-site at the health center, we are able to provide various types of blood analysis within seconds!

It is a truly valuable gift from the Rotary Clubs of Japan and Cambodia.

Thank you very much for this contribution.

The mobile ultrasound machine "Vscan" (GE Healthcare) is one of the main goods of this donation. It is a very useful and forefront device which truly fits to our health center's environment, bringing brilliant improvement to the services we are able to provide to GHC patients.

As a mobile and battery-operated machine, Vscan requires minimal electricity and is flexible within an environment that has limited electricity.

For example, when we have an emergency patient at night the Graphis Health Center sometimes does not have enough electricity remaining in its solar power generation system. We must use a generator to run other necessary machines, but for the Vscan we can charge it during the day time and it is ready to use at night without depending upon an electricity supply.

Additionally, when Graphis Health Center responds to emergency cases with its ambulance, we are even able to carry Vscan to the scene.

In order to provide accurate and sound support, RID2660 and GE Japan provided a half day of Vscan training. Director of the Graphis Health Center, Dr. Peter Li attended the training in Japan last February. It was also very good opportunity to collaborate face-to-face with our long-time supporter and donor, RID2660.

After receiving this machine, Peter provided usage training to Dr. Rany, who is the doctor in-charge of the Health Center. Vscan is currently being used at Graphis Health Center by Dr. Rany and several volunteer doctors from abroad. Almost all of our volunteer doctors were surprised to see such a high-technology machine at a health center in such a rural area.... But why not? This is one of very good example of advanced technology fitting into a less-advantaged environment. The nature of innovation is to make life better for all!

CDEP has been receiving supports from various Japanese organizations and individuals since the beginning. We would like to say we are thinking of all of our friends / supporters and all the people of Japan who are suffering at this moment. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

Later, his bag was found. A child found it near the independence monument (City Center) and brought it to the police. There were US$700 cash and his driving license inside, and amazingly, nothing was stolen!

Everyday what we hear are traffic accident, fire, rubbery, sick etc. etc. but last night, between these daily accident/incident reports, we got this heart-warming story.