Chonnam National University Veterinary Volunteer Group NEO Provides Medical Services in Cambodia

Chonnam National University College of Veterinary Medicine Overseas Volunteer Group NEO conducted animal medical volunteer activities in Cambodia this year as well, following last year. Photo by Chonnam National University

Chonnam National University announced on the 18th that the College of Veterinary Medicine's overseas volunteer group NEO carried out animal medical volunteer activities in Cambodia again this year, following last year.

Twenty-three members of the second NEO group conducted volunteer work in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, Cambodia, from the 9th to the 17th of last month for a total of nine days and seven nights.

This volunteer activity included Professor Noh Woongbin (Emergency and Critical Care Medicine), three graduate students from Chonnam National University Animal Hospital, and sixteen undergraduate students. In addition, veterinarians Yang Hayoung (Director of 24h Noah Animal Medical Center), Jung Hajin (Head of Medical Team at Uchi Zoo), and Oh Areum (Veterinary Researcher at the Wildlife Rescue Management Center) joined to strengthen medical support. Locally, Professor Lee Inhyung (Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine) from Seoul National University joined the Siem Reap volunteer activities, and Chhoey Saran, a veterinarian from the Royal University of Agriculture in Cambodia, also collaborated.

On the 10th, the volunteer group held an academic seminar and lectures at the Royal University of Agriculture Animal Hospital and provided animal medical volunteer services. On the 11th, they held a cultural exchange event with local students alongside their volunteer work. They also visited the Cambodian Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries to discuss with officials and conducted a preliminary inspection before starting volunteer activities in Siem Reap. The Siem Reap volunteer work took place in front of the Makro Siem Reap shopping mall on the 14th and 15th, and the completion ceremony was held on the 15th. On the 23rd, a follow-up meeting was held in Korea to reflect on the activities.

The small animal team was divided into internal medicine and surgery, providing rabies and comprehensive vaccinations, administering dewormers, and conducting health checkups for dogs and cats. They performed 239 neutering surgeries and meticulously managed postoperative recovery. During this process, they diagnosed and treated various diseases such as tick fever (21 cases), transmissible venereal tumor (TVT, 6 cases), pyometra (5 cases), canine parvovirus (8 cases), and feline parvovirus (3 cases), providing substantial medical support.

The village outreach team provided health education to local residents and conducted clinical activities such as rectal and blood examinations for livestock, completing 658 vaccinations and administering dewormers to 322 animals.

A total of 1,219 medical services were provided during this volunteer activity, and the NEO volunteer group plans to continue efforts to improve animal welfare and public health in Cambodia through ongoing cooperation.

Professor Noh Woongbin said, "This year's volunteer activities were even more advanced than last year, and I hope that our continued efforts will make a significant contribution to the improvement of animal welfare and public health in Cambodia."