About 1 in 6 hospitalized adults show signs of swallowing difficulties
People with swallowing difficulties, also known as dysphagia, don’t often get the help they need because most Cambodian clinicians aren’t fully trained in the management of swallowing difficulties.
Here’s how we’re changing that:
Educate
Educate and train clinicians in the assessment and treatment of swallowing difficulties.
Sustain
Sustain the clinical delivery of swallowing difficulties management within the healthcare system.
Advocate
Advocate for improved care for people with swallowing difficulties in Cambodia.
Cambodians with swallowing difficulties shouldn’t have to suffer because clinicians don’t have the right training
Individuals with swallowing difficulties have challenges when they need to eat and drink. These difficulties may be caused by neurological disorders such as stroke or Parkinson’s Disease, as well as by conditions like cancer, traumatic injuries, or severe illness. It can lead to malnutrition, pneumonia, social isolation, and even death.
By receiving quality training to treat swallowing difficulties, healthcare professionals can provide better help to people with this problem.
You can make a difference
It’s frustrating and dangerous when patients with swallowing difficulties and their loved ones can’t get the right treatment to improve their condition.
You can help change this.
Sustainable change in Cambodia’s healthcare system
Since 2016, we have been building how swallowing difficulties are treated in Cambodia. More than 65 healthcare professionals received direct, skill-based training to treat swallowing difficulties.
In 2022, we partnered with the University of Puthisastra to create “Foundations of Adult Dysphagia Management” program, Cambodia’s first-ever course on how to treat swallowing difficulties. The first cohort graduated in 2024 and are now applying their skills to help their patients.
We also offer a dysphagia mentorship course to strengthen the skills of clinicians and develop future Cambodian leaders in the field.
Speech and Swallowing Therapy Cambodia’s partner hospitals and clinics
Graduates of our university program are proudly providing care for swallowing difficulties at these hospitals and clinics across Phnom Penh:
Coming soon:
I have met many patients with swallowing difficulty almost every day…
I am interested in learning this skill is because there are many patients in Cambodia who need this for their treatment. This skill is very well known in other countries but not in Cambodia. It is a great resource that we can help people and help our society.”
– Yum Srey Ny, SSTC course graduate & physical therapist at Sunrise Japan Hospital
Have questions?
Feel free to send us an e-mail. We’d love to hear from you.
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