Travel Tips - Phnom Penh (Ah!) - Faces & Places - June 2003

DJ Ken

National Radio Text Service

Telemedicine & David Robertson - Chea Sila Ups The Ante - Aloha Pub & Restaurant Grand Opening Party - FIT Media's Television Schedule - Chris Dechard Injured

Wednesday June 25, 2003

TELEMEDICINE'S DAVID ROBERTSON

When you come to Phnom Penh the letters NGO frequently appear in association with a persons name. David Robertson is one of the names. Robertson first came to our attention as a member of Digital Divide Data (DDD) Board of Advisors. His name surfaced again while working with the Phnom Penh Municipality as an assistant to then Phnom Penh Governor Chea Sophara.

The list goes on… In his past he worked for the MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) Media Lab as an assistant to the Director Nicholas Negroponte. It was that position that led Robertson to come to Cambodia for a one year stay…. that was three years ago. He's continues to do his due diligence in assisting the medical needs of Cambodian people with Telemedicine.

In the past Robertson worked with the rock band Aerosmith and was in the limousine business. In the now his name is associated as being the owner of the Starlight Lounge. Most importantly he currently serves as Director of Special Projects/Telemedicine/ American Assistance for Cambodia/Japan Relief for Cambodia. The NGO is part of the Cambodian Daily's publisher Bernard Krishers many humanitarian projects.

Robertson has been involved with Telemedicine since it's inception two and a half years ago. He and a nurse visit the Preah Vihear village two days a month. They help the medical needs of a village's of 155 families totaling 900 people. Their per capita income is $40 A YEAR.

The American made a point of noting that the residents have many health problems and live in a nowhere land wher there that lacks doctors.

"Villagers have two or three problems not one problem," he said. "These people are the poorest of the poor people."

The Telemedicine project is the culmination of a three-step program. First a satellite dish was donated to a village school. That enabled children to learn how to use a computer and the Internet. E-Commerce and selling the villagers silk products via the Internet followed.

With the IT technology in place Telemedicine utilizes the equipment to send X-rays and EKG's of patients to doctors around the world for their opinions and diagnosis. The Harvard Medical School and Sihanouk Hospital in Phnom Penh are frequently contacted.

"No doctor in Phnom Penh will go to see them so through the Internet we can bring a doctor to the village," he said.

If transport is needed for treatment Robertson and the nurse take the patients to the nearest hospital. When necessary they take them to a Phnom Penh hospital that specializes in the ailment or need such as TB, heart, eye, children's hospital etc. Most frequently used are Sihanouk City of Hope Hospital and Kantha Bopha Children's Hospitals.

Being a volunteer isn't financially rewarding so why does Robertson commit so much of his time for such projects?

Regarding Telemedicine Robertson said, "I get some satisfaction of helping these very poor people. These are some of the people that I know best in Cambodia."

The breadth of Telemedicine can't be told in a column. We'll do an in depth story on the organization in the future. This column is about the names of people and places where you can go in Phnom Penh. Robertson is one of those people.

You can meet and chat with Robertson at his Starlight Lounge. For more information about Telemedicine and examples of his work go to: www.villageleap.com

Then go to: Telemedicine

ALOHA PUB & RESTAURANTS GRAND OPENING PARTY

The Aloha Pub & Restaurants are having their grand opening party this Friday June 27th. Festivities begin at 6:00pm.

Aloha offers seven different areas for wine and dining I their spacious setting. There is a Garden area, two outdoor covered areas, two air conditioned indoor pubs & restaurants. One features a DJ and dance floor, the other cozy romantic areas. There are also VIP rooms and a two thirds covered outdoor terrace that can accommodate 50-100 people for private functions.

It's worth a party Friday night June 27th, 6pm at Aloha Pub & Restaurants, 60 Monivong Blvd. opposite the Ministry of Information near the Royal Hotel. All are invited. Tel: 023-990-378.

FIT MEDIA PRODUCTIONS

FIT Media Productions upcoming Cambodia Voices television shows will be Mob Violence and Responsible Politics. Mob Violence airs tomorrow Thursday June 26th and repeats the following Thursday July 3rd from 6-7pm on channel TV 9.

Contact via Email: cambodianvoices@online.com.kh

CHY SILA - UPS THE ANTE

Chy Sila the twenty-nine year old fast food entrepreneur of BB World is also in the coffee house business that being the Sila's Trung Ngueyn coffee shop located at No 369-371 Sihanouk Blvd. outside Olympic Stadium. He also has two satellite shops in the Sorya Shopping Center on the third floor.

Why Trung Ngueyn and not Star Bucks? Sila raised his eyes when he mentioned the half million US dollar price tag for a Starbucks franchise. The less than $50,000 Trung Ngueyn fee was more appealing. Sila also noted that the Trung Ngueyn coffees offered in his shop are more appealing to Asian tastes.

SORYA SHOPPING CENTER

M.K. NG the chairman of the Sorya Shopping Center says M-F 5000 customers shop daily at the complex Monday through Fridays and 10,000 daily Saturday's and Sunday's.

Sorya is the only air conditioned shopping center in Cambodia.

CHRIS DECHARD

CHRIS DECHARD resigned from AP Friday June 6th. He turned in AP's health insurance coverage Friday June 13th. Two days later Dechard suffered a knee injury in a pick-up basketball game.

At press time his condition remains unknown. He will have a to take an MRI within a few weeks for an accurate diagnosis. Dechard plans to return to the US. China and Iraq are on his mind as the next step in his life. Dechard admits a thrust for where the action is. No set plans as yet.

BASKETBALL:

The Wednesday night basketball games at ISPP has been changed to Friday's from 5pm on. Sunday games will continue on Sundays at 5pm. Open to all. Entrance fee is 2000 riel (50 cents) per person. Tel: 012-708-245

SAY WHAT?

According to Channel News Asia there are 56,000,000 Internet users in China.

DDD NEEDS BOOKS

Digital Divide Data (DDD) is seeking book donations for their new library in Phnom Penh for poor students and children. Contact Niev Sitsophary: 012-971-341 or Iv Sovannary (Nary): 012-977-566.