When compared to densely populated areas, rural communities are more vulnerable to major health crises, facing personnel and medicine shortages, insufficient hospital bed capacity, and substandard medical equipment.
In many developing countries, these challenges are made more acute by poor road conditions in rural areas that can prevent patients from reaching hospitals and accessing health services. This is particularly true during the rainy season, when flooding is common. During public health emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic, such challenges are not merely inconvenient, but can be life-threatening.
In Cambodia, for example, the rainy season lasts from May to September. In this period, it is much more difficult to transport food, medicine, and other essential items to rural households.
