With the Tufi Health Centre fully commissioned and the communities within a 2 hour paddle regularly utilising the facility, the May 2018 XPD team headed to the outlying villages of the Tufi District. We had an amazing combination of doctors, midwives and nurses from WA, QLD, NSW and VIC and 7 out of 10 had been on a NR-Health expedition in the past. Joining us from the Tufi Health Centre was Stanley (Registered Nurse ), 2 Village Birth Assistants and 1 Village Health Volunteer that we had trained last September. These volunteers have been working in the Tufi Health Centre since the training and their dedication and level of knowledge blew us away!!
We were treated to a traditional welcome at Tumari Village near Spear Point to the north and after a huge first day and a banana boat ride to a nearby village at Berabona, the team were asleep early in a beautiful wind-house by the sea.
The dive boats picked us up early and we were off to Sinei Village and then to Vovo for the night. It was soon evident that malaria was rampant in these villages due to the prolonged wet season and the value of having 2 doctors on the team became invaluable.
We were treated to a traditional welcome at Tumari Village near Spear Point to the north and after a huge first day and a banana boat ride to a nearby village at Berabona, the team were asleep early in a beautiful wind-house by the sea.
The dive boats picked us up early and we were off to Sinei Village and then to Vovo for the night. It was soon evident that malaria was rampant in these villages due to the prolonged wet season and the value of having 2 doctors on the team became invaluable.
On Wednesday, we had the pleasure of working out of the Tufi Health Centre where we also held a staff clinic for the Tufi Resort who have been amazingly supportive of our work. Without the constant backup of Roya and Brian (managers of the amazing Tufi Dive Resort) we would struggle to arrange the logistics necessary to do our work and their willingness to be super agile to meet our needs is like having a mothership watching your back.
The second half of the week was spent in the far south where we were able to utilise the Guest Houses of Gerawa, Jeb and Awanen. The owners have now become our friends and have everything prepared and ready to cater for our large team exceptionally well.
I cannot speak more highly of the teams that immerse themselves in the lives of these communities and provide healthcare and hope to the people of the Tufi District. The scorecard ...7 Days, 8 villages, 860 patients, Days for Girls packs distributed to 68 school aged female students, 200 birthing kits distributed to Village Birth Assistants (VBAs) and the Tufi Health Centre and 6 education sessions delivered!!!!
Stewart Kreltszheim
No Roads Health
[email protected]
The second half of the week was spent in the far south where we were able to utilise the Guest Houses of Gerawa, Jeb and Awanen. The owners have now become our friends and have everything prepared and ready to cater for our large team exceptionally well.
I cannot speak more highly of the teams that immerse themselves in the lives of these communities and provide healthcare and hope to the people of the Tufi District. The scorecard ...7 Days, 8 villages, 860 patients, Days for Girls packs distributed to 68 school aged female students, 200 birthing kits distributed to Village Birth Assistants (VBAs) and the Tufi Health Centre and 6 education sessions delivered!!!!
Stewart Kreltszheim
No Roads Health
[email protected]