project update 2

- wednesday: olgeta blong hospital oli mekem pap smear for checkem cervical cancer lo 40-50 mamas
-thursday: Had community presentation, very interesting findings, the community were very interested, and wanted to know more about our findings
-friday: Had our action plan , where we prioritized the issues of thursday and made an action plan for each
saturday: all participants came back.

FNU (FSM) Graduation 2010.

Congratulations to the Vanuatu medical students at Fiji School of Medicine, who finally ended the year with their graduation on the 3rd December 2010, and receiving their certificate. Master of Medicine in Obstetrics and Gynecology: Dr. Tony Harry and Dr. Trevor Cullwick. Bachelor in Medicine and Bachelor in surgery: Dr. Walesi Natuman and Dr. Rodrick Mere, Postgraduate Diploma in Eye care: Mr. Edwin Amel and Mrs. Monique Tahi. Certificate in Sexual and Reproductive health Management: Mr. Jivi Hoe, Mrs. Marie-Michelle Tsiabon and Mr. Pierre paul Irimel. Including the graduates on Certificate in Community Disability and Rehabilitations: Mr. Knox Morris, Mrs. Marinette Twomey and Mr. Pallen Philip. congratulations again and all the best in your future endeavors.

Eton Village Project update.

Monday 23rd-Thursday 27th November.....Did House to House questionnaires, and covered majority of houses in Eton village

- Been having health talks started tuesday-friday....very interesting:
-sik blo mosquito: filiarisis, malaria, dengue fever
-Dental Hygiene
-First Aid
-Diabetes
-Anemia
-High Blood Pressure
-Cervical cancer and breast cancer
today (monday): talk about s.t.i & mental health

-good attendance so far....community really interested to learn about health issues.

FRIDAY, SATURDAY: We did screening at Eton Village, found some undiagnosed cases of high blood pressure, diabetes, eye problems and heart problems..very rewarding.

today monday is the last day of screening and everyone is happy so far, and looking foward to the analysis and presentation on wednesday.

COMMUNITY MEMBERS have been supportive, and we have eaten a lot of aelen kakai...tuff gogo

made a lot of good friends wetem ol man eton....oh yeah..rubbish clean up day starts on wednesday...and same day is pap smear check up of women..
we will come back on friday this week.

VMSA Perfomance (culture nite 2010).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DpiijSgvcs

Follow the link to view the performance that was choreographed by the talented Vanuatu students.

Profiler of the Week.

Name: Pallen. Abraham. Philip
Age: 22
D.O.B: 19/07/1988
Sex: Male.
Island: Malekula (Vanuatu)
Course: Certificate in Community Disability and Rehabilitation.(CCDR 1)
Career: Community Rehab Assistance (CRA).
Future: Occupational Therapist/ Physio Therapist.

Been to school and always wanting to serve my people, the life has been like a stranger to me. attended the a few primary schools(could not settle in only one) since we traveled mostly during my child-wood. Finally attended junior high at the Ranwadi College (Pentecost, Vanuatu), four years there really proves that i am ready to move on. spend another two years of college at the Matevulu College (Santo, Vanuatu), unfortunately could not make it to form seven. continued the foundations level at the University of the South Pacific. That was not the end, I applied for a job at the Young Peoples project and took the job as an advocator for young peoples issues in different community. I realize my main interest is to provide help within different community, My ability to community stuffs develops so fast as if I was born with skills, it took alot of courage and skills to show the community you a right for the jobs. So i continued for 3 months and so decided to apply for another job still on my interest, i joined a team of young Ni-Vans and Australian under the youth challenge Vanuatu, send in to the community ready for community works, there i develop more skill, the project lasted for a period of 3 months. we head home and so i applied for another job at the world vision Vanuatu and was part of an educational project for people in the community, from there i lasted for a long time and thinking this is final, but not, my interest develops more and more and so i was lucky to be offered a scholarship at the Fiji school of medicine for the Community Rehabilitation and Disability, now i get to work in the community not only looking at the people, youths and their situations, but now qualified to focus to on disable people and health in the community. this has spotted that when we dream our dream can be small but can reach deeper in to different fields of life, looking forward to finding another adventure after my graduation this year 2010.

Eton Village Project 2010.

The Vanuatu Medical students of the Fiji School of Medicine a in preparation for a village project, which will be focus on the Eton village of the Efate island. The project should be held for a period 2 weeks and will look mainly on the Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in the community, there will be a number of activities done to make sure the accurate result is being measured. More details to be updated.

Farewell 2010.

Last Saturday October the 16^th was the Fiji Vanuatu-Medical-Students Association (VMSA) farewell function. It was a time for us to firstly, celebrate the association’s achievements for this year and secondly to wish the leaving students the best in their career.

This year’s functions and activities all turned out to be great success. With the association having only 30 members, the executive body had managed to fully carry out its responsibilities. The executive body was headed this year by the President Ricky Boe Mera (MBBS-5) and by great means was able to balance VMSA matters and his school work. The Vice President, Nilani Tari (MBBS-2), summarized the activities for this year at the formal hour of the farewell function. To recollect, the activities she mentioned were one fundraising, 2 get-together (Easter and semester break), and several of meetings.  Also the cultural night, which was an awesome night of ‘stage-ironing’; we had the opportunity to show case a warrior dance from Futuna and combining it with the Tanna dance. And we gave the audience a superb performance of a cross-cultural item comprising typical Caldonie, Hip Hop and Zouk, (several of the crowd ‘chippin’ off their chairs). Everyone (boys and girls) gave their time and dedication for practice and that lead to the good performance.

The association was enlightened on the news of the newly elected President of the Fiji School of Medicine Students Association, Sale Vurobaravu. Congratulations to him again on his second reign, and the association as a whole honored to have one of its members responsible for the students’ governing body. We were looking forward to our exams and holidays but thanks to you Mr. President now we look forward to next year!

The above mentioned candidate is also (the surrogate) Chairman of the Vanuatu Community Project.  This project had been the main topic of our agendas in several meetings since the ‘ice-age’ and hopefully we’ll have initiated a pilot project by the end of this year at Eton Village. Once covered, the project will be executed (by all Vanuatu medical students) yearly in different communities and to greater heights.

Anyways (come back to the function). The main guest speakers of that night were Dr. Trevor and Dr. Tony. They’ve always warned us, saying our study is our priority before alcohol and Oreilly’s night club (Hmmm). We were again fortunate to have Brother Knox stand up and give his speech. He had been a great leader throughout this year and showed a lot of support for the association and its activities. And the young tax collector of the association Albert Tokoune (an important member of the FSM CF), expresses his gratitude for Ni-Vanuatu students. Everyone was looking forward to a great night with the feast and kava.

In the final moments of the function, the continuing students (to not embrace too much on the things that have yet to come) sat back, presented gifts and (sadly) pay respect to the leaving students. We were fortunate to have about 12 leaving students: Dr. Tony (Masters in O & G), Dr. Trevor (Masters in Surgery), Walesi and Roderick our two MBBS-6. Also, three field workers in Community Disability: Abraham Pallen, Knox Morris and Marinet T. Two other nurses doing postgrad diploma in Ophthalmology whom are Eddie and Monica. And the last three Marienne, Chevy and Jean-Pierre the three nurses doing a half-semester course in Reproductive Health. We know the Ministry of Health will not overlook the exquisite skills you have acquired to make Vanuatu a better place. That was what you came here for and now achieved. As the President of the association said ‘we wish you all the best in your careers’ (wana navu!).

May God be with us all in our exams and in all that we do. Keep the faith Ni-Vans!

The Final Year’s MBBS Class of 2010.

Mr. Roderick Mera and Miss. Walesi Natuman, finally looking forward to graduating at the end of this year 2010, after six solid years of studying and pursuing their career as doctors at the Fiji School of Medicine, while Vanuatu is looking forward to receiving them in to the medical team. The two candidates has put in a lot of effort in their studies, and now finally graduating with their Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS).

With word from Miss Natuman, she said “The course that Mr. Mera and I are currently enrolled in is the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS); it is a 6 year undergrad course that for the two of us will be ending hopefully if God wills it this year on the 3rd of December. Unlike other medical schools we have a different approach to learning, the first 3 years is a PBL program or a problem base learning program which was introduced just a few years back; this consists of students going for tutorials, and lectures and slowly introducing us for clinics. PBL basically means that unlike having to take classes for Physiology, anatomy, pathology and having exams at the end of the day, we have a more scenario setting for example, a scenario may be child comes in with a cough, hence from there we learn the anatomy of the lungs, physiology of the lungs how it works oxygen exchange etc… and the different pathology or diseases that can cause a cough. By year 4 and 5 it is more of clinical work mainly based at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital (CWM) we are put into 9 rotations for 9 weeks which require an exam at the end of each rotation in or for you to move to the next rotations the rotations are; Psychiatry, Internal Medicine, Community Medicine, Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Special topics and Surgery. At the end of year 5 we sit for Exits which is the main exam which allows you to exit from student life into Training Intern year, and hence year 6 is the TI year where 6 months is dedicated to Community Attachment where we are sent to various Sub-Divisional Hospitals to work and to carry out our Primary Health care projects the next 5 months are than spent at the Lautoka Hospital(west viti levu) where we are rotated again in 4 rotation each lasting 5 weeks the rotations being OBGYN, Internal Medicine, Surgery, Pediatrics with no exams at the end however we are assessed overall and than if successful we are given the go ahead to graduate. Well that is a little about the course that we are undertaking it is a course that requires perseverance, dedication and open mindedness, however there is a lot of time for social activities whatever they may be. Hence my advice to all those currently enrolled, those thinking of getting into this cause continue to peruse and never give up work hard and study smart! The road is long but the journey is short.

Balancing career Vs sports.

Wendy Mera and Cassandra bebe joined the under 21 netball squard when it began in may 2008. Since then they continued to train untill the recive scholarships for university and move to fiji to study in February 2010. Since moving to Fiji, Cassandra, who was a member of the 2009 vanuatu world youth cup team, has been able to balance her studies towards becoming a doctor with her love of netball, and has recently joined a team in Fiji. Joining the team has givem her the opportunity to continue to work on her fitness and make new friends. Congradtulation to these two girls.

Vanuatu’s first Community Rehabilitation Worker (CRW).

Vanuatu is fortunate to have its first ever CRW to study on the specific field of disability, the Fiji school of medicine has develop a new field of studies based on the disability accept of life. The course started last year 2009 and is slowly progressing, however with sponsorship aid from the AusAid, Vanuatu is lucky to enrolled its first ever students to undertake the program (CCDR)Certificate in community Disability and Rehabilitation, Mrs. Marinette Twomy and Mr. Knox Morris from the Vanuatu Society for Disable People and Mr. Pallen Philip from World Vision Vanuatu. With the skills and the knowledge they have gathered during the one year of studies, the Vanuatu’s disability citizens will finally have people to bridge the barrier that is between them to rehabilitate, socially communicate for them, include them and have someone manage their life to live to the fullest. Hopes are for more students to undertake these studies in the future to come.

Profiler of the Week.

Hard Work Counts

Name: Lawrence Boe

Age: 24

Gender: Male

Course: MBBS 5 (Bachelor of medicine and Bachelor of surgery)

Career: Doctor.

Future: Internal Medicine.

“Halo folks, friends na wantoks. It is an honor for me to share with you a little about myself. I come all the way from the island of Maewo in Vanuatu, and I grew up much in the capital Port Vila.  I was privileged to have such a loving and caring family that has always supported me in achieving a quality education. The primary school I went to was Central Primary, and from there I went on for secondary education at Malapoa College. As I grew up I realized life was getting harder and harder. I had more worries and more problems to face. It was at Malapoa College I learnt that to succeed in life you have to work hard. If I wasn’t doing well in school, I wasn’t trying hard enough.  So whatever issues I was facing I stood up against them. Today, here I am at Fiji School of Medicine looking back in retrospect, I thank our Father in Heaven for giving my life a meaning. All that you and I have achieved was not mistake. We should thank ourselves for we have made it this far. Thank ourselves because we make our families proud of whom we are. Hopefully I will graduate next year but I know when I do get that ‘paper’ it will only be the beginning of a life I have in front of me. We all have much to say and much to do so my only message is that with hard work comes great success. Where ever you are in the world; in Fiji, PNG, Phillipines, Vanuatu or Cuba I wish you all the best in life and keep working hard.”

Vanuatu DG of Health visits Vanuatu Medical Students Studying in Fiji

The Director General of Health for Vanuatu Mr. Mark Bebe visited Vanuatu  Medical Students studying in Fiji for the first time in so many years on Sunday the 3rd of October.
The President of Vanuatu Medical Student Association (VMSA), Mr. Ricky Boe Mera gave a welcome speech and was followed by hanging of garland by the girls. In his welcome speech Mr. Ricky thanked the DG for giving 100,000vt for the Independence Celebration and welcomed him to the school.
The visiting delegates and students had a quick lunch followed by a speech by the DG.
In his speech he talked about the importance of studying and the structure of Health Department. Giving time for questions, the student asked questions regarding housing of on-call Doctors, working as a private Doctor after working hours, about the containers for graduating students and many more questions regarding their profession which the DG did his best to answer.
After the questions Mr. Albert Toukoune thanked the DG for answering the questions, then Mr. Sale Vurobaravou gave a presentation on Eton Village Project to be carried out next month. After the presentation the DG has given a green light for financially supporting the project and Dr. Tony Harry has also said that they would help in transporting students during their time for cervical cancer screening.
The visit ended with a prayer and the students had a chance of talking with the DG before he left.

        
  

MBBS students @ Cuba

Vanuatu is very proud for having students attending medical colleges in Cuba.

Inter Tertiary 2010 Soccer

The Fiji school of medicine made another break through this year with a success in soccer, beating all teams from all University around suva, and securing the champion position, the team made from mostly solomon islands students and vanuatu student, with very outstanding performances the team manage to beat USP team in the finals with a score of 3 - 0. The team is looking for word for another big challenge in the next year 2011. Go FSM Go...more action next year....!

New President of the FSM Students Association 2011

 Congratulations to the FSM student association President of 2011, the election results was a joyous and very positive and look forward to result, Mr Sale Vurobaravo a member of the Vanuatu Medical Student association was elected second time to represent the students of the Fiji schools of Medicine. According to the random student interview, they say they a looking for word to enjoy the next year again with the best leadership skills of Mr Vurobaravo, after his leading time in the years 2009 the students enjoyed whatever that is been done with and for them. We wish you the all the best in 2011 working with the new elected responsible people.