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Vanuatu Physio Aide
Hi,
When I was a student in 1987, I accompanied my wife to Port Vila when she worked on an overseas aid abroad program from Australia.
It does not sound like things have changed much since then! The Hospital was very poorly funded, although visiting volunteer cardiac teams provided important surgical cover. The Hospital was run based upon the English hierarchical nursing system, (Matron etc), however this caused a problem as nurses from different villages did not recognise a hierarchical training system that contradicted their own cultural hierarchy, therefore communication was poor.
The country existed on aide from overseas, and much of this seemed to be eaten up by red tape.
Vanuatu was run by the Anglophones (English speakers), and the Francophones (French speakers), and the two systems did not mix well. I think it is the other way around now, with the French in charge?
Another interesting element is the paternal nature of the Establishment. Although I was only a spouse of the person providing services (my wife), any monies for developmernt or projects was handed to me, rather than to my wife. The same hierarchy aplied in the Health system.
Everything occurs on Island time - which is frustrating to a visitor from a busy culture. Previously, the culture of aides and handouts applied, with little local enthusiasm for self determination. Has this changed?
The hospital had only recently received its first trained therapist (trained in Fiji), and she was related to Vanuatus Prime Minister.
Without funding and experience, she had a difficult time.
I attempted to help (I had no official capacity, nor had I completed my training - I was on holiday), by having equipment built locally for the disabled children (eg standing chairs etc).
Donation of equipment is ok provided that the locals know how to use and maintain the equipment. Some electronic devices, health & communication, would have to be serviced and used in an environment bto ensure safety. The tropics can be harsh.
Setting up a volunteer program for the training of locals, in exchange for accomodation, with subsidised air fares, could assist in raising competencies. Improvement in self sufficiency would then follow.
Does the Uni of the South Pacific have any outreach programs?
A specific Forum for this topic is a good idea. Whatever occurs re aide, it needs to be co-ordinated to maintain consistency of assistance, without wasting or duplicating resources.
Providing a cow to starving people where there is no grass for the cow is a recipe for disaster.
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