NBIC

Cambodia’s National Borey for Infants and Children, or NBIC, is a government-run centre that is home to abandoned or orphaned HIV/AIDS-positive and special-needs children and young adults. Centers like this are very rare in Cambodia and are very necessary; it can be challenging to contemplate the scale of the human unhappiness at NBIC, but the centre is an incredibly loving and happy place where the best interests of the children are at the forefront of everything that is done there. Currently, there are 99 children and young adults living at NBIC.

CamKids has provided all medicine and hygiene products at the home since 2011. It is essential that hygiene and cleanliness standards are strictly implemented, as this has a huge impact on the health and wellbeing of the children, many of whom are incontinent and prone to infections; diseases have reduced considerably since this funding started. 

CamKids also sponsors two part-time physiotherapists for stimulation activities with the more severe special-needs teenagers. These therapists help stretch and move the muscles of the children, which reduces atrophy and spasms. They also use various exercise equipment in order to make it more fun for the children, such as pulling rings. At the same time the children are being held and embraced, so they feel safe and secure. 

The therapists work with the children in activity rooms that allow children to sing, dance, learn the alphabet in both English and Khmer and play games with each other – as well as one-on-one time with the carers, to allow for more intensive therapy. This is vital for the children’s health and to make them feel happy and supported.

SEAL Cambodia Dental Programme

The SEAL Cambodia project is funded by CamKids and the Global Child Dental Fund, with materials and supplies provided by GC Asia and Colgate, to provide sealants on the first permanent molars of up to 60,000 Grade 2 children over a three year period. 

At present, the average Cambodian 6 year old has 9 decayed primary teeth and the average 12 year old has 3.6 decayed permanent teeth, mostly affecting the first permanent molars. Most children have no access to dental treatment and by the time they are in their teens, need to have one or more of their permanent teeth extracted when the decay becomes too deep. The Seal Cambodia project aims to prevent decay from developing in molar teeth through early intervention by providing fissure sealants on the teeth of Grade 2 Cambodian school children. 

To date our delivery partners have provided treatment to children in more than 36 primary schools located in Phnom Penh and this is being extended to include children in Kampong Cham, Kampot and Kampong Speu. Our team of dentists, dental nurses, assistants and dental students provide not only sealant protection for the children, but also oral health education and tooth brushing instruction. Every child receives a free toothbrush so that they can continue to clean their teeth at home. Parents are informed if there are dental problems identified requiring ongoing treatments at a local dental clinic.

During the five months to February 2014, 9,810 children were treated with 20,618 children in total to date and we have therefore achieved the goal of treating over 20,000 children before 20 March 2014, which is International Oral Health Day. As the cost of the fissure sealant, toothbrushes and toothpaste are donated by our partners and much of the work is undertaken by volunteer Cambodian trainee dentists, the cost of treating each child is only $1. A regular donation of only £5 per month will allow us to treat an additional 100 children per year. If you would like to support this valuable work, please contact us.