Patience for patients in Vanuatu

Patience is a virtue

There were numerous delays.  It is often the way when undertaking a trans-Pacific project.

Miscommunication, island-time, confusion – whatever the reasons, I now have photographic evidence that equipment donated by the South Pacific Moana Hospital Trust  has arrived at the Vila Central Hospital.   Happy Dance, happy dance.   Here you can see Annie the physiotherapist at Vila Central Hospital, with a “sports”  wheelchair, which I am sure will be beneficial for some of her patients.

I have already been advised that 6 beds with mattresses will be sent into remote islands in the TAFEA province (two of the islands in TAFEA province, suffered particularly badly during the March 2015, Cyclone Pam disaster).  Johnas, whom Lav Kokonas sponsored at the Vanuatu Agricultural College in 2014, has arranged for some of the items to be sent into the SHEPHERDS Islands.  This is another area, badly effected by Cyclone Pam.   Other items are to be heading to West Santo – an area of Vanuatu that is extremely difficult to access, with little roading.   Road entry into West Santo is via South Santo, so maybe patients at clinics in that area will benefit too.  We shall see what eventuates and is logistically possible.  This is encouraging news for me.

Madame Boulekone who has helped with educational material for the  Mamma’s Laef group was there to collect some items to be used at a clinic for women in Port Vila.

It is such a relief to finalise this project.   I hit the ground running from 9^th June and those following 6 weeks were filled with an estimated 250 hours to materialise this project .   I look forward to being able to visit some of the clinics that will receive the equipment and maybe meetings some of the patients in clinics who have benefitted from this items.

There is no “I” in TEAM

I would like to thank once again, all of those involved at the New Zealand end who made this happen.  Also to those in Vanuatu who have done their bit too.  In particular Julie & Mick from the Vanuatu Amputee Association, Kiriau & Jack from the Mamma’s Laef group who took responsibility to assist in unloading of the containers and Johnas for coordinating some distribution.   To  Dr Wendy of Nelson, who during her locum work in Vanuatu “rattled a few cages” to get things moving – tank yu tumas.

“Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.” –Helen Keller

Mi lukim yu

Belinda