| Chamcar Bei Health Post reopened after fifteen years |
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On May 26th, the residents of Chamcar Bei village in Kep province took one step closer to achieving their goal of improved health with the long-awaited reopening of the village health post. BAB Cambodia has supported community-led development in Chamcar Bei since 2007, helping the community to reach their vision of becoming a peaceful village where all residents have a better quality of life . The re-opening of the health post marked a significant development for Chamcar Bei and was celebrated by over 850 community members and government officials, including Kep Provincial Governor H.E. Has Sareth who presided over the inauguration ceremony.
The health post was originally built in 1996 by the government shortly after the establishment of the Chamcar Bei village when former Khmer Rouge soldiers exchanged their weapons for land. The intention was to foster their ongoing reintegration process, however, funds were never allocated by the Department of Health to staff the post and it stood unused and damaged until this year. As the reopening of the post was critical to improving the villagers’ health, BABC worked with the Community Health Taskforce to lobby the Kep Health Department to make it happen. The Health Department agreed to provide staff, including a mid-wife and two nurses, while BABC agreed to pay for the building renovation and basic equipment.
The post promises to provide basic health facilities to almost 700 families, including vital maternal and infant health services, family planning, and referral services. Since it s unofficial opening in January the post has treated 231 patients, provided pre and post-natal checks to 25 women, provided 160 vaccinations, and assisted in the delivery of four babies.
In his speech at the inauguration ceremony, the Provincial Governor emphasized the history of the area as a Khmer Rouge stronghold. He remarked on the progress that has been made since that time in spite of the unique barriers that the people have had to be overcome when compared to other areas. He said that the opening of the health post marks a significant achievement for the village which once was known for the sounds of fighting.
During the ceremony BABC Executive Director David Pred spoke of how BABC has been working in Chamcar Bei to holistically address the root causes of poverty. “Because even if we build the best schools and provide the best teachers, families that cannot afford to feed their children will not be able to send them to school,” he said. “And without accessible health care, families will be forced into debt or to sell their land, driving them deeper into poverty.”
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