Donating blood in Siem Reap

Donating blood in siem reap

So many times when we travel to countries that have poverty, we ask ourselves, what can we do to help!

Right now Cambodia is coming upon their rainy season. During their rainy season thousands of children develop dengue fever. Untreated these children will die. There are many young children falling gravely ill to this horrible mosquito born disease. With many dying from complications of the fever due to the extremely high temperature the body will reach if not treated accordingly. The local hospital was running critically low on their blood donations and were in dire need of topping them up to help fight the increasing onslaught of the outbreak (blood transfusions are required for severe cases of the disease).

One small thing tourists can do to help is donate blood. When we first saw the signs about this need. We thought, hmm needles in a foreign country?? Risky!!

But after doing a bunch of research (big breath mom) we found this to be a safe easy way to help. We talked to some nz people just returning from donating and they reassured us that everything was sterile and top notch. So tomorrow we will go do something that we aren't allowed to do in Canada. Because of where we travel to (countries that have a risk of malaria) we are not allowed to donate. But they are less concerned here because of the great need. 

Cambodians have not been raised in a culture of giving blood. Because of some religious differences and other reasons, they do not usually donate unless a loved one needs it. Yet the need is so great. Our tuk tuk driver had no idea that people should donate blood.

So off we went this morning. We told our driver the name of the hospital and when we pulled up my heart started pumping a little harder. It looked a bit scary with lots of local people sitting outside looking sick. Little babies lying limp in their mothers arms. We passed a baby getting iv fluids outside while its mother held him in her arms. I tried to remind myself that where we were going was going to look a little different. A guard led us into the old hospital. Down empty hallways, past empty siting room. I was still a little nervous. In my mind after talking to the NZ family I imagined a new sterile clinic type building. Not an old public hospital type building. But there was no turning back now. We needed to meet this dr that was trying to change things for the babies in Cambodia and we had to make sure. I was absolutely ready to turn and walk away if things in the blood donation ward didn't look good. But now was not the time.

The guard led us into another part of the hospital. The room looked more modern and even had A/C. Ok I started feeling more at ease. There was an American lying on a stretcher when we walked in. His bag of blood almost full. The dr greeted us and asked us to take a seat while he finished up. Everything was looking better. We watched carefully as he finished up. He offered a pop and gave him a bag with a box of crackers, multivitamins and a t-shirt. 

When the dr was finished with the other guy. We asked some questions. We Watched very carefully as he pulled a new needle/bag and other equipment out. We told him we were a bit nervous about donating blood in a foreign country. He assured us that they have hundreds of tourists come every month and are very careful to do things to North American standards. 

Unfortunately, because of my arm surgery, I could not donate. He recommended that I wait at least 6 months ):  so Dean was our hero today and gave his blood to help the babies in Cambodia. We are very proud of him!