YWAM Medical Team To Assist Vanua Levu

Maritime communities in the Northern Division will be assisted with 42 boxes of essential dental and medical aid to support their health needs.

This is through the Youth with a Mission (YWAM) Aoateroa medical volunteers team whose ship is currently berthed at the Malau Jetty in Labasa.

Mission’s clinic co-ordinator dental and medical, Angelique Miller, said this was their first trip to the Northern Division post-COVID-19 and is purposed to assist maritime communities with basic dental support and medical treatment.

Ms Miller said they continued to forge a healthy relationship with the Fijian Government and the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MOHMS) to ensure their teams assisted local medical teams.

Youth with a Mission (YWAM) Ships Aoateroa vessel ‘YWAM Koha’ carrying a medical team and essential medical supplies and services for rural communities in Northern Fiji berth at the Malau Jetty on August 23, 2022.

Basic medication provided to communities included liquid medication for children, paracetamol, tablets for adults, masks, dental medication and other basic medical equipment. Two dental mobile clinics are on board the YWAM Koha medical ship and will be used.

The team will spend a few days in Malau before setting sail for Kavewa Island on Sunday morning. After Kavewa Island, they would visit and provide medical services to villagers on Druadrua Island, Taveuni and Namuka district coastal villages of Visoqo.

Ms Miller confirmed they had received a list of supplies they needed and proper processes were conducted and cleared to be deployed to Fiji.

She said these supplies would be delivered to respective district health centres and nursing stations who would then dispatch them to villages.

She indicated they would assist with monitoring and a medical bed for pregnant mothers to assist in birthing and in emergency situations.

Ms Miller said after a discussion with the District Nurse of these islands, they managed to assess and understand the medical supplies and equipments they needed to uplift medical standards.

Ms Miller said they want to honour the work of the ministry nurses and not introduce new medication that villagers might feel uncomfortable with.

Divisional Dental Officer Northern Division, Nadeem Sattar, visited the YWAM team with his staff for proper logistical checks and clearance.

Mr Sattar said they were satisfied with the logistical preparation by the team to ensure safe dental practices are carried out on our people.

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