Medicorps hosts ACCP delegation and People for Ambassadors

The American College of Chest Physician, one of the largest specialty organizations in the U.S., sent a delegation to Vietnam and Cambodia in the beginning of December 2007 under the leadership of Dr. Paul A. Kvale. Their professional purpose statement centered on the intention to ‘facilitate increased learning for both the host professionals and for the U.S. delegation, and to contributions of international understanding at the career and personal levels for all’.

Medicorps was entrusted to set up the professional program for the members in Cambodia. Due to our intimate knowledge of the health-care system in Cambodia we were able to offer an exciting and informative lecture and discussion program in several hospitals in Siem Reap and Phnom Penh. The delegates gained valuable insight into the challenges of patient care in a poor country and were able to see the deprivation experienced by the indigent population first hand. They also came to appreciate the heroic efforts of physicians and nurses alike to stem the tide of poverty caused suffering.

To see how little equipment and supplies were at their colleagues disposal motivated many to think of ways how to help effectively. We at Medicorps offered our help on how to channel donations and volunteers to the right locations without creating dependency.

The appreciation of the host country reflected in the addresses to the delegation by the Director of Health, H.E. Dr. Tep Lun and other dignitaries. Moreover, the U.S. Ambassador, H.E. Mr. Joseph A. Mussomeli, accepted our invitation to welcome the delegation in the Khmer-Soviet Friendship Hospital. The next day he invited all members to a V.I.P. tour of the embassy, a high point for many.

The event was deemed sufficiently important to be presented on national TV and in the daily newspaper….

Medicorps always stressed the importance of close, personal contacts between fellow physicians from rich and poor countries. We feel that we are uniquely positioned to guide potential donors and volunteers in the right direction thanks to our long experience in medical relief and our close cooperation with the government agencies and international organizations. We look forward to offer similar experiences to other delegations from Western countries.