Nimol finds his strength again - steroid use in Cambodia

Dr. Kuhn (left) and Dr. Wise (seen on the telehealth device) work together to evaluate Nimol (bottom right).

At just 18 years old, Nimol suddenly felt too weak to engage in his typical daily activities. Nimol’s concern grew as his condition progressed and he had to use a wheelchair. He came to Sonia Kill Memorial Hospital (SKMH) in Kampot, Cambodia, hoping to restore his health. Dr. Sunly Kuhn, a local medical provider at SKMH, evaluated Nimol and realized his condition required an expert.

World Telehealth Initiative (WTI) partners with Health Volunteers Overseas (HVO) to equip the local providers at SKMH with access to virtual lectures, trainings, and medical expertise via telehealth. Dr. Richard Wise, an emergency medicine physician in Oregon who has supported SKMH for many years as an HVO volunteer, joined a telehealth consultation remotely with Dr. Kuhn and Nimol in Cambodia.

Together, Dr. Wise and Dr. Kuhn diagnosed Nimol with hypokalemia, a condition caused by low potassium. After receiving the required medications and treatment, Nimol’s strength returned, and he could finally walk again. He made a full recovery and returned to the life he enjoyed before.

Nimol’s hypokalemia resulted from steroids he took to gain weight, which have become popular in Cambodia. The prevalence of this dangerous medication makes it even more important that the physicians in Kampot are trained on treating hypokalemia. Through the WTI and HVO program in Cambodia, physicians like Dr. Wise are bolstering the skills of the local healthcare providers.

As an HVO volunteer, Dr. Wise has visited Cambodia year after year to provide SKMH with emergency and internal medicine training. Unfortunately, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, his latest trip was cancelled.

Thankfully, WTI’s program gives volunteers, like Dr. Wise, an opportunity to continue supporting SKMH from the comfort of their own homes. One of WTI’s core objectives is to build the capacity of healthcare systems in low-resource areas. Leveraging telehealth to connect volunteer providers with our partner hospitals and clinics ensures sustainable, cost-effective, and efficient programs.

Dr. Wise with one of the telehealth devices that WTI utilizes.

(The patient’s name has been changed to protect their privacy.)