In August 2025, I attended a 10-day medical camp with a team of doctors from USA, NZ and Canada in Saralana Park, Port Vila, VANUATU.
We managed to see 1000 patients over 10 days. Communication was easy as the people speak English. I had tremendous support and encouragement from the ROTARY CLUB of Port Vila. I attended their luncheon meeting. They took care of local transport and accommodation for me. I was introduced to a doctor who was a Port Vila Rotarian and that helped immensely to have the patients whom we saw, have their follow up at the Vanuatu base hospital.
Additionally, I conducted educational health talks for the women. Kawa is their national beverage and is the root cause of many aches and pains we found in the youngsters. With the support of the Health Minister of Vanuatu, we organised “Kawa workshops” and also had the privilege of having the scripts issued by us honoured by the local pharmacies.
The Australian Volunteers Program assisted us with services of nurses, dentists, chefs, physiotherapists and drivers. The nurses from the local military hospital also helped out with instruments and diagnostic kits and doing pre-clinical assessment.
It was indeed gratifying and a great learning to be a part of a MULTIDISCIPLINARY, MULTICULTURAL team even though we went through experience of earthquake tremors, tsunami warning sirens and sleeping under mosquito nets as a prophylaxis from contracting malaria.
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