Kratie

Kratie is home to the third VI clinic. It is a beautiful town, recently subjected to a market fire and later, flooding. Nevertheless the sunset over the river and the friendly atmosphere charms us. We immediately find a kind hotel manager, a favourite market lady and a great bar owner- each of whom we revisit on several occasions during our short stay in Kratie. This is the town. A fifteen-minute walk (or five minutes by Cambodian description) is VIC in company of a hospital. A lovely site manager who is extremely welcoming runs the centre. If I thought things were layed back at the other centres, this place is in extended slow motion. We spend all afternoon with a patient each, which is great for them as the majority are neurological patients, of whom will benefit greatly with prolonged one on one treatment time.

The centre comprises of one physiotherapist, one P&O, two technicians, the site manager, an administrator, a teacher for the school for the children of the families staying there and the site manager. The patients are scouted from the community once a month and brought to the clinic for treatment.

Hik is a twenty three year old male who’s story got a bit lost in translation at first. However, in the end we managed to gather that he fell over whilst running and probably broke one of his lumbar vertebrae. He went to hospital as he could not feel or move his lower limbs. He stayed in hospital for fifteen days, being treated with “medication”, but there was no progress so he was sent home. In Cambodia, many doctors do not know about physiotherapy. When Hik came to us, no one had explained his condition or prognosis do him. He did not know what was going on. We tried to educate Hik about pressure area care and prevention of contracture and about goals he can work towards as a wheelchair bound individual. All of this was too much for Hik to take in and he appeared to become quite distressed. It had been five months since the accident but all the information was coming at once after so long and it was overwhelming so encouraged him to rest and we would see him again tomorrow.

Hik is now working on sitting balance, strengthening his arms to propel his wheelchair, independent management and care, including transfers and improving continence.