The Women's Center Cambodia

Photo: Tobias Rose-Stockwell

This Khmer woman is the face of Cambodia. Both hope and endurance are etched in her face. She is the woman, who through genocide and civil war, lost many family members and friends. These years of war left few trained professionals alive. Now the government must be rebuilt and the serious problem of inadequate health care must be addressed.

The Women�s Center in Siem Reap will offer a program of health education focused on family wellness and will include pre-natal care, maternal care, nutrition, household hygiene and disease prevention and immunization. The psychological needs of women will be addressed through a program designed to reduce levels of depression caused by grief, loss and trauma.

The Center will also provide referrals. Many Khmer women, who have received help from village healers or at village health programs, are not accustomed to accessing services from different sources, or evaluating how well these services meet their needs. Consequently, being able to refer women to appropriate agencies will be a great help in promoting a comprehensive health assistance program in Siem Reap.

A very important aspect of this center is the planning, organization and operation of the program by Khmer women for Khmer women. Nurses and health care workers will be responsible for all aspects of the program, including planning, delivery of services and evaluation of the services provided.

An advisory group of Khmer women will be established. These women will make suggestions concerning current programs, make recommendations for the future and assist in public relations and fund raising activities.

Judy Larkin,
Consultant Advisor for Program Development,
November 2007