This article was written in 2008 while I was working for World Vision Cambodia.
Title: Sitha and her family
learn the value of health and hygiene
Sitha Chuk, 10, the youngest of three
children, grew up not knowing the value of health and hygiene.
Their surroundings was always dirty and a mess. Sitha’s father Chorn Sek, 52
and her mother Ron Nin, 47, both work as farmers. Their living condition was
always difficult despite her parent’s hard work to earn income and provide for
their needs.
Ron Nin says, “Sitha and her older brother got sick very often. My husband and I were too busy to spend time and take care of our children. Much of our time was spent working in the farm”. Sitha said she felt unwell almost every day. “I felt I had no energy. I got sick of diarrhea very often and we did not know why”, she says.
“We all drank un-boiled water from the pond or sometimes from the stream and our house was always dirty. We had never care about hygiene. We just lived the way our ancestors lived in the past”, recalls Ron Nin. Ron Nin got alarmed when Sitha got sick of typhoid fever. “We incurred huge debt because of Sitha’s poor health condition and hospitalization”, she adds.
In 2007, World Vision started its area development programme (ADP) in the village. The staff member, who works as a Transformational Development Facilitator (TDF) was appalled by what he saw. Everywhere in the village was dirty and foul smell filled the air. This prompted the staff to do awareness campaign on the importance of health and hygiene.
Along with other people in the village, Sitha’s family learned about the effects of a dirty environment that caused diseases among the villagers, especially the children. “World Vision educated us on the need to observe cleanliness and hygiene - to drink boiled water and use the toilet properly. The staff also encouraged us to dig a garbage pit where we can dump all our wastes and trash. Our surroundings was freed of the bad smell after we did the clean-up regularly”, Ron Nin shares.
“We are thankful World Vision helped change my family to live in a healthy environment. It also helped us with our children’s education and health” Chorn Sek says with a shy smile.
“Sitha’s family is considered the model of cleanliness in the village. They were the first family to practice cleanliness and hygiene. Their neighbors became inspired to practice it because of their example. The whole village was transformed and the foul smell is gone” says Vipheak Vong Mony, Transformational Development Facilitator.
“I am now in good health. I help my parents clean the house, cook food and ensure that there is water in the toilet for washing and cleaning. We all drink boiled water all the time and wash our hands before eating”, Sitha says proudly.
Sitha is in grade four and loves Mathematics. “I want to be a good doctor in the future so I can keep people in my village healthy and strong”, she concludes.
Ron Nin says, “Sitha and her older brother got sick very often. My husband and I were too busy to spend time and take care of our children. Much of our time was spent working in the farm”. Sitha said she felt unwell almost every day. “I felt I had no energy. I got sick of diarrhea very often and we did not know why”, she says.
“We all drank un-boiled water from the pond or sometimes from the stream and our house was always dirty. We had never care about hygiene. We just lived the way our ancestors lived in the past”, recalls Ron Nin. Ron Nin got alarmed when Sitha got sick of typhoid fever. “We incurred huge debt because of Sitha’s poor health condition and hospitalization”, she adds.
In 2007, World Vision started its area development programme (ADP) in the village. The staff member, who works as a Transformational Development Facilitator (TDF) was appalled by what he saw. Everywhere in the village was dirty and foul smell filled the air. This prompted the staff to do awareness campaign on the importance of health and hygiene.
Along with other people in the village, Sitha’s family learned about the effects of a dirty environment that caused diseases among the villagers, especially the children. “World Vision educated us on the need to observe cleanliness and hygiene - to drink boiled water and use the toilet properly. The staff also encouraged us to dig a garbage pit where we can dump all our wastes and trash. Our surroundings was freed of the bad smell after we did the clean-up regularly”, Ron Nin shares.
“We are thankful World Vision helped change my family to live in a healthy environment. It also helped us with our children’s education and health” Chorn Sek says with a shy smile.
“Sitha’s family is considered the model of cleanliness in the village. They were the first family to practice cleanliness and hygiene. Their neighbors became inspired to practice it because of their example. The whole village was transformed and the foul smell is gone” says Vipheak Vong Mony, Transformational Development Facilitator.
“I am now in good health. I help my parents clean the house, cook food and ensure that there is water in the toilet for washing and cleaning. We all drink boiled water all the time and wash our hands before eating”, Sitha says proudly.
Sitha is in grade four and loves Mathematics. “I want to be a good doctor in the future so I can keep people in my village healthy and strong”, she concludes.
-Ends-
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