Street hospital

Baby with intravenous drip exiting a clinic

I often see people with intravenous drips walking or riding the streets of Phnom Penh. It’s a strange sight that makes me wonder what are they doing outside of a hospital?

It makes more sense now that I’ve been told that people typically get drips for severe bouts of stomach problems and diarrhea. Children and babies are especially at risk for dehydration so they are the ones most frequently on drips. They don't stay in the hospital but are just sent home with everything attached.

I used to believe that only tourists have problems with their digestive systems when they visit Asia. But the locals get them just as well. They seem to just accept it, explaining that it’s a common ailment in this hot weather. I have been here long enough by now to realize why this most likely happens in hot weather. They don’t refrigerate the food and they let it spoil in the heat – and then they eat it. It’s no wonder they get sick. Unfortunately, they don’t seem to pay much attention to storing food in more hygienic conditions.

As for walking around with the drips, I’m also wondering how safe that is. What if the tube gets tangled and pulled? How hygienic is it to be outside in the polluted air? And they don’t just walk with the drips. As might be expected in a country where everyone goes everywhere on their motorcycle, they ride a motorcycle with the drip. It’s not unusual to see a family on a motorcycle where the father drives, the child with the drip sits in the middle and the mother sits in the back, holding the drip bag high above. I’ve also seen similar arrangements of three girls on a motorcycle, the middle one with the drip and the one at the back holding the bag. Sometimes, just two people ride, where one drives and the other holds their own bag.

The above photo depicts a frequent sight in front of a children’s clinic across the street from our guesthouse.