LDS Humanitarian Services

I must thank the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints for giving me the opportunity to travel and serve the people of Cambodia. I was only one of a group of 100 physicians, nurses, engineers, interpreters, nutritionists and others who were dedicated and great company and travel companions. Many had been on the ship for 3 months and served the people of Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, and Cambodia.
Also many thanks to the Navy and host countries that made the Pacific Partnership 2012 a great success.

Choeung EK Genocidal Center

One cannot go to Cambodia without noticing that there is a missing segment of the population. The 45-65 year olds are gone. Pol Pot ranks up there with Hitler and Stalin and estimates are that 2-3 million people died directly or indirectly from his actions and policies. There are over 300 known "killing fields" in Cambodia. In the mid 1970's Pol Pot drove all the people from the cities into the country side. He killed any one with handicaps, that wore gasses, or had an education. If there was any suspicion, you were killed. This was a somber visit to this site.

Day Off

After 2 weeks on the ship I was able to spend the afternoon in town. We hired a car to take us around. We went to a water fall and traveled the country. There are a lot of shoe and clothing factories in Cambodia. The wage for a laborer is about $3 per day for 10 hours. In one of my clinics I had a woman come in complaining of fatigue and back pain. I found out she had 4 children under the age of 11. She worked 10 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year in the rice fields carrying heavy buckets all day. What do you think was the diagnosis?

Home?

After a few days we referred to the ship as home. I was very impressed with the Navy. The food was not bad and there was plenty of it. We often saw it again in a different form at another meal, but at least they were creative. We had to sign out every time we left the ship and were accounted for before we left and when we returned. There was a lot of "hurry up and wait" which is a typical part of military life. I would have to say my experience with the Navy was great and I enjoyed working with them. They were all professionals and our country is in good hands with them on the sea.

Peer Exchange

One afternoon I was able to go visit the Regional Hospital. We first met with the hospital director and then were taken on a tour. The conditions were heartbreaking and I had to hold back tears as I toured the facilities. Patients were on beds in a breezeway. The beds had no mattresses and families either brought a blanket or mat for their family member to lay on. Resources were very few. Families and patients brought their own food and cooked in the rooms.

Painting

With not much to do on the ship, I volunteered to help the Seabees on a project to remodel a clinic. We traveled an hour inland to a remote village. I spent the day helping paint the exterior and interior of the clinic. It was great to work all day and not have to think. I needed to give my brain a rest.

Subject Mater Exchange

The Navy uses a lot of acronyms. It took awhile to get used to them. I had the opportunity to give a dermatology lecture at Life University in Sihanoukville. (SME) Approximately 150 nurses and physicians from the local community were in attendance. Pediatricians and surgeons also made presentations and afterwards we broke up into groups and taught them to stitch and tie knots using bananas.