We are... 

A totally Cambodian registered and operated  charitable Organization, offering high quality,  free or low cost rehabilitative surgery to the poor of Cambodia, from within the proper Cambodian Health System (Ministry of Health Facilities). 

Cambodia's leading, locally managed family rehab surgical unit,  with a track record of excellence since 1998.  Thousands of poor Cambodians have been rehabilitated and  many health workers trained

A base for international teams and experts... closely linked with, supported,  monitored and visited for training/surgical teams  by leading international organizations including.   Operation SMILE,  Operation Rainbow (Canada), and the Chinese University of Hong Kong.  We are  Cambodia's leading SMILE TRAIN Center, and an official center for IMPACT (UK) Operations.  This open door policy insures our continued high standards and international network

Official cooperating partner of Rose Charities Australia, UK, Canada, NZ, and USA, originators of modern rehabilitation surgery in Cambodia

 

Child and Family Surgical Center, within the proper Cambodian health system

        ....a Rose Charities network partner supported by Rose Charities UK, USA, Canada & Australia

Cambodia's leading  SmileTrain partner (click for SmileTrain website)

 THE RAINBOW ROAD  LEADS TO  CHEA CHUMNAS !!! <click picture below>

Coordinates and links  with Operation SMILE   Cambodia 

Cambodia's  IMPACT  Center

Operation FIRST and Rose Charities would like to  thank His Excellency, Prime Minister Hun Sen of Cambodia for his recent generous words of support.

 

... "The work is so rewarding. The smiles on the parents’ faces as we bring their little ones out after surgery is incredible. We share exuberant laughs and gasp with astonishment when comparing pre and post op photos. It is incredible. The need is so great, and we are only scratching the surface, but everyday I am impressed how everyone can come together from 6+ different countries and make it all happen.
The amount of collaboration, teaching, and learning is incredible. Surgeons from each country visit their colleagues tables to see how they are doing this flap, where they are stitching this bit, whether they are using collagen here or not. Our crack dentist rigs up prosthetics for the palate and the nurses are turning heads and taking names by being superb at their jobs. We’re all learning from one another and making things go smoothly.   Jessica (Canadian Volunteer) March 09

INTRODUCTION  and HISTORY  

FIRST is an acronym for  Facial Intra-oral Rehabilitation &     Surgery Team Rehabilitation &     Surgery Team.  Its mission is to utilize, develop and train for safe, cost effective, cost sustainable rehabilitative surgical and/or other rehabilitation procedures for the poor of Cambodia and the Cambodian health system.  

 

  

 

 

                               

 

 

 

 

 

 

Release of acid burn contracture  gives this little girl the use of her arm again 

FIRST rehabilitative surgery group was founded by Dr Nous Sarom and colleagues  in July 2004 following his resignation from another organization running from surgically risky non Ministry of Health premises.    Dr Nous Sarom is Cambodia's leading maxillofacial surgeon, having worked and trained with many international groups and surgeons (Japan, Australia, Canada, USA, France, UK etc) both in and out of Cambodia.  Dr Sarom is one of the main advocates of the founding ROSE Charities Canada paradigm of low cost, safe, reproducible rehabilitative surgery to improve quality of life for patient, family and community alike.  

The FIRST - Rose coordination embodies all the fundamental concept sof ROSE in an all Cambodian setting.  It made good the promise  of ROSE Charities Canada to its donors to move its founding project to Cambodian operation, control and management. This did not mean that training, resources and networking could not continue to be assisted by  international partners only that management and control of the project is based where it rightly belongs, in its own country. 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

    

Typical procedures for the poor include surgical assistance for those with congenital deformities, acid burn injuries, landmine injuries. Cleft lip and palate, a significant problem in Cambodia are foremost on the list and are Dr Saroms particular specialty.

  The primary focus of FIRST is especially on children although all are assisted where resources permit. The motto of 'Kids first' however is the realty which tends to prevail and often rehabilitative surgical procedures are more effective when performed early.  

To date, procedures have included all those listed above and Dr Saroms training program is underway.  

 

Learning to walk again                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Dr. Sarom and young patient

 

 ASSISTANCE FOR VICTIMS OF ACID VIOLENCE

Dr Sarom and Rose Charities have been promoting awareness of acid attack violence in Cambodia since 1998.  Surgical treatment (where possible) is not only carried out in Cambodia but several excellent professional teams have and continue to make visits.  One such visit to Cambodia, organized by the Virtue Foundation in NY, not only treated but also arranged for a particularly injured victim to return to Mt.Sinai Hospital (NY) for specialized treatment.

For a moving and beautifully written account of Cambodian acid burn victim treatment also see the blogsite of 'Annatopia in Cambodia' <click>      RoseCharities also supports the One In Three Women Campaign   www.OneInThreeWomen.com  against acid (and other) violence aginst women.  See also <click>  

 

 

LOCATION and STAFF  

Location of the project is in Chey Chumnas General Hospital, Takmao Town, Kandal Province, Cambodia,  on the outskirts of Phnom Penh.  Staff include 9 volunteers from the hosptial.  Dr Nous Sarom is the primary trainer and the other staff include surgical, anesthetic, nursing and physiotherapy personnel.  

 

FIRST-ROSE partnership      

Operation FIRST is a continuation of the ROSE Canada rehabilitation surgery project in an official Ministry of Health hospital formed through the enthusiasm of Dr Sarom and colleagues. Because of this, the ROSE group is able to contribute its wide network of contacts as well as funding support.  Rose Charities Canada founded its Cambodian rehabilitation surgery unit in 1998 based on the concept of providing simple, sustainable, quality-of-life oriented rehabilitation surgery to poor Cambodians. (the original ROSE acronym - now discontinued -  was in fact 'Rehabilitation Oriented Surgical Enablement / Empowerment).  Part the original Rose Charities Rehab surgery unit was  looted and vandalized by crooks in May 2002  leaving Rose Charities (and Dr Sarom who was it leading surgeon) to find a new location. Chea Chumnas hospital provided this location and, in addition added the vital component of operations out of a bona fide hospital (with the necessary peripheral facilities and under the Ministry of Health)  

Operation FIRST - Rose Charities is one of Cambodia's leading cleft lip and palate surgical centers.  It has, with its partners  provided more free or low cost operations of this type for the poor,  than any other Cambodian organization.  Dr Sarom is a certified  Operation SMILE surgeon and participates regularly in their Cambodian (and some Vietnam) missions.

The ROSE Canada project in Cambodia had attracted many visitors (including visits by Her Royal Highness,  Queen Monique of Cambodia, and Her Royal Highness Queen Noor of Jordan) and experts in many fields who had both taught and assisted with complex and other cases. It continues to remain a welcoming reference center for overseas expertise who wish to connect directly with the surgical needs of Cambodia, un-fettered  by any controlling expatriate organization, yet running from a proper Ministry of Health facility

Many international students have, and continue to visit Operation FIRST - Rose Charities for their electives

Dr Sarom himself has, on two occasions accompanied two children overseas (Australia and Canada) arranged by ROSE Charities Canada with complex surgical conditions unable to be operated on in Cambodia through lack of resources.The management expertise of ROSE and the experience, enthusiasm and local knowledge of the FIRST team are thus able to combine together to work for the poor of Cambodia and the Cambodian health system.

Operation FIRST / Rose Charities.  Have strong links with the University of Sydney, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and the University of British Columbia, Canada. 

 

Operation FIRST / RoseCharities  Vido (approx 5.5mins)

For more Rose Charities videos <click>

 

Donations...   Online ...       Australia       USA           UK           Canada         <click country of choice>

Note. Residents of other countries may also use the  links above or click here

Donations may be made via Rose Charities (please state it is for FIRST)      DONATIONS .  Cheques can be accepted in the following currencies... $US, $Canadian, $Australian, $New Zealand, Pounds sterling, Euro (or other convertible currencies)  It is important to make the   cheque payable to 'Rose Charities'   (but indicate on the cheque that it is for FIRST or  Cambodian rehab surgery etc.  Tax receipts available for residents of Canada, USA, New Zealand  Australia is pending . UK residents may support also by Gift Aid.

Contact 

Dr Nous Sarom: Director  OperationFIRSTCambodia:   

Contact address:  Chey Chumnas General Hospital, Takmao, Kandal Province, Cambodia.  (or any of the national Rose Charities) organizations addresses<click on 'where we are'> 

E-mail:  RoseHQ@aol.com