A NEW sensory space has been opened to help some of the world's most poverty-stricken children.

Bury-based consultant paediatrician Dr Bratati Bose-Haider opened the sensory space at M'Lop Tapang children's centre in southern Cambodia.

She joined a team at their centre in the coastal city of Sihanoukville, working with street children, providing medical clinics and carrying out outreach work.

The new sensory space, set up by Manchester-based charity SicKids, is the first of its kind to open in Cambodia.

The project will provide medical and nursing care for children and young people.

Dr Bose-Haider, whose visit was funded through a SicKids grant, said: "It was a pleasure to spend the week with the excellent team at M’Lop Tapang.

"Having seen firsthand the conditions affecting many patients, I have no doubt the sensory space will greatly enhance the lives of the children and young people here.

"Thanks to SicKids for giving me this wonderful opportunity."

Children's doctor Dr Bose-Haider joined SicKids trustees Professor Andrew Rowland and Den Carter in helping just under 70 children on the visit.

She provided expert advice on children and young people with developmental delay.

The sensory room is designed to support the development of these youngsters, helping with touch, hearing and sight through the use of special lighting, music, tactile objects and creating a calming environment.

SicKids opened their first sensory space at North Manchester General Hospital in September and regularly award grants to UK medical professionals travelling to Cambodia to work with health and social care teams there.

Co-director of M’Lop Tapang, Roth Chanpalkun, said: "On behalf of everyone who works at M’Lop Tapang, and the thousands of families we support, sincere thanks to the team at SicKids, and their supporters, for providing this amazing facility. I have no doubt that the new sensory room will significantly improve the care we offer, and help us lead the way in supporting the wellbeing of children and young people in Cambodia.”

SicKids’ founder and chairperson Prof Rowland added: "Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, and the excellent team at Rompa, I'm thrilled about the opening of our sensory space in a country where developmental delay in children is extremely common."