Mission Log

Fact Sheet 2007
Country of operation:     Republic of Vanuatu

Areas of operation:       TORBA, PENAMA & SANMA Provinces

Time period of operation: Early July to mid October, 2007

Results accomplished:

Medical:

Over 1200 patients seen & treated
More than 550 adults, 650 children
    
Dental:

Over 1170 examinations (820 adults, 350 children)
More than 500 adults & 40 children required a total of
more than 850 extractions

Other care included cleaning and de-scaling, personal
instruction regarding dental care & oral hygiene

Health Education:

Video and instructional presentations attended by 6900
visitors (some individuals attended multiple sessions)
 - many were given personal advice as well

Glasses:

290 people provided with glasses  - 217 to assist vision
and over 80 people with Pterygium provided with sunglasses

Vaccinations:

1299 life saving vaccinations provided to children, pregnant
women, and women of child bearing age
All expatriate personnel were unpaid volunteers. Pacific
Yacht Ministries is a small, registered, non-profit charity
organized in 2002. It is managed by a small group of unpaid
volunteers and provides its services with funds generously
donated, mostly by private individuals.
 

Team 4 was the largest that PYM has assembled to date. A total of 21 people, professionals, helpers, and yacht crews for 4 yachts left Sola, Vanua Lava on Friday Oct 5. This team worked on Ureparapara Island, plus 5 islands in the very remote Torres group: Loh, Tegua, Hiu, Metoma, and Toga.

The results speak of the teams efforts:

Medical:
354 patients examined in total - 263 adult and 91 children

Health Education:
Over 2600 attendees at 12 locations participated in workshops and presentations. Subjects ranged through the usual:
Back strengthening exercises and back care techniques
Dental health and food
Women’s health and Breast examinations
Family planning
Breast feeding
Infertility
Domestic violence, rape and incest
DVD’s on alcohol,tobacco, germs, STD’s, general health and hygiene, and HIV/AIDS
How to make a bush toothbrush

Dental:
479 patients examined - 306 adults and 173 children
96 adults had 145 extractions while 9 children (12 years old and under) had 11 extractions

Glasses:
72 men and 40 women were provided with glasses  - 66 pairs for reading and distance vision problems, and 54 pairs of sunglasses to help slow down the growth of Pterygium on eyes already affected

Vaccinations:
421 disease preventing vaccinations provided to babies, school children, pregnant women, and women of child bearing age

This was a great effort carried out by an expatriate doctor, a dentist and assistant (both from Vanuatu), 5 expatriate registered nurses (one a registered midwife), and a cook, plus two staff members from the TORBA Provincial Health Office in Sola (both RN’s) who were overseeing the vaccination program.

God has blessed Team 3 with amazingly mild weather for this time of year. This has made it possible for the team to reach four islands that are very difficult to access when the winds are strong. Two would have been impossible with the normal Trade winds.

Team members have made good use of the time given them:

Medical:
193 patients examined in total - 169 adult and 24 children

Health Education:
Over 2000 attendees at 3 locations participated in workshops and presentations. Subjects ranged through:
Back strengthening exercises and back care techniques
Dental health and food
Women’s health and Breast examinations
Family planning
Breast feeding
Infertility
Domestic violence, rape and incest
DVD’s on alcohol,tobacco, germs, STD’s, general health and hygiene, and HIV/AIDS
How to make a bush toothbrush

Dental:
346 patients examined - 192 adults and 154 children
126 adults had 185 extractions while 14 children (12 years old and under) had 17 extractions

Vaccinations:
878 disease preventing vaccinations provided to babies, school children, pregnant women, and women of child bearing age
There was a doctor and a dentist, both from Vanuatu, 4 registered nurses, and a registered nurse/midwife plus helpers (all expatriates) on this team. There was 3 nurses from the TORBA Provincial Health Office who lead the vaccination program. Thank you team for a great effort.