The shortcomings of the Cambodian healthcare system are tragically apparent in its failure to deal with the scourge of maternal mortality.

Cambodian psychotherapist Sathya Pholy works as a consultant for microfinance providers VisionFund, as a doctor for the Phnom Penh Counselling Centre and as the host of Love Talks with Dr Sathya Pholy, a weekly radio show on Love FM 97.5.  In this month’s article he considers how the spirit of Christmas applies to everyone, whatever their beliefs. I was born a Buddhist, but after being taught English by an American Christian my father became interested in Christianity. In 1985, while living in a refugee camp on the Thai-Cambodian border, my whole family was baptised as Christians. During my 20 years in the US, I was baptised twice more and ordained as a deacon in the New Apostolic church. Since then I have given Bible classes, taught Sunday school and preached the gospel for the Seventh Day Adventists Church.  Many early memories of my family revolve around Buddhist ceremonies, such as the  Bonn Kathen, which is the annual ceremony of donations for the local pagoda. For Buddhists, donating money or gifts to the pagoda is an essential preparation for the next life.  Now, as a Christian I have learned to love Christmas, especially as it is celebrated in the US. I lived in the northeast of the States, so my dreams of a White Christmas came true every year. I usually spent more money than I should every Christmas on gifts and decoration. I chopped my own tree and decorated it with lights and ornaments. I bought lots of presents – I became Santa Claus.  By comparison, Christmas in Cambodia is a tame affair. Cambodians think of it as a celebration of Christ, so are reluctant to take a full part in the festivities. ...

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Psychotherapist Sathya Pholy works as a consultant for microfinance providers VisionFund, as a psychotherapist for the Phnom Penh Counselling Centre and as the host of “Love Talks with Dr Sathya Pholy”, a weekly radio show on Love FM 97.5.  In this month’s article he considers the challenges and dangers that rural people face when they visit their capital city during the Water Festival. The month of November sees the return of the Water Festival to Cambodia as well as to a number of other Southeast Asian countries. This festival is linked to Buddhism but is also a celebration of past glories and the ability to master the waterways.  As the country’s most popular festival, each year sees an influx of millions to Phnom Penh. Many of the visitors are rural males who may have saved all year for the chance to party in their capital city. This brings a lot of pleasure but also a lot of dangers.  First up is alcohol. As there is little in the way of laws, treatment centres or basic education, many rural people have little knowledge about this licit substance. Binge drinking and drunkenness is a common feature of the festival. This causes public order problems during the festival, and these may continue afterwards if the drinkers take their habit back to their homes and communities. Drunks are also more vulnerable to the city’s other hazards, such as illegal drugs, prostitution and robbery.  Because the capital isn’t built to cope with the huge number of visitors, many people will spend the night sleeping wherever they can, or not bothering to sleep at all. Some will turn to methamphetamine stimulants such as yabba, yamma and ...