|
|
Description:
When the Khmer Rouge collapsed in 1979, only 20-25 doctors remained in all of Cambodia. This not only led to a particularly vulnerable medical system, but also, eventually, to an influx of foreign health NGOs. These non-government organizations were mostly well-intentioned but under-prepared. Set 25 years later, this USC documentary follows three children as they wade through the Cambodian health care system in search of treatment. When Operation Smile, an international medical organization, comes to the aid of the children, all appears well. However, the pressures of history and social inequities weigh heavily on the lives of the children and their families. It soon becomes evident that there is a difference between the doctors' good intentions and the children's realities. This presentation also surveys the state of the Cambodian public health system.
Speaker(s):
|
