Bringing Care and Practical Health Education to Remote Micronesia
Volunteers spent most the day in the warm humid jungles at a remote site in Lukop, caring for nearly 300 patients.
The Project HOPE volunteer medical team was in full swing bringing the best medical care possible to the two medical civic action project sites opened to the people of Pohnpei in the Federated States of Micronesia.
Dr. Lynn Bemiller, along with Pharmacy Student Andrea Tanzella and Nurse Maureen Kisicki spent most the day in the warm humid jungles at a remote site in Lukop. The team helped care for nearly 300 patients in one day.
Dr. Bemiller worked with multinational medical providers from Malaysia, Japan, Australia, and of course the U.S. Navy.
“The day went really well,” says Dr. Bemiller. “There was nothing serious, unlike what we have seen before, just mostly chest pain, heart burn and fungal skin rashes. We saw a really nice group of patients in a very isolated area and I had a public health nurse helping as a translator. This really worked to the benefit of the patient because we were able to give additional information and health education to the patients in their own language.”
Woking in a multi-role function, Kisicki began the busy day registering patients, but noticing a common problem among the patients standing in line, Kisicki began demonstrating stretching exercises to help relieve the everyday aches and pains.
“There were a lot of great people that came to the clinic today from the remote areas of Micronesia. I was able to teach them a few simple stretches to the people to help relieve back pressure and other aches and pains,” says Kisicki.
In addition to the patients, the Pacific Partnership 2011 medical team was also visited by two special quests, the United States Ambassador to the Federated States of Micronesia, Peter A. Prahar, and Australian Ambassador to the Federated States of Micronesia, Martin Quinn.
The head medical site leader, Lt. Cmdr. Protegenie Reed, had only the highest praise for the Project HOPE volunteers. “They rocked, from Dr. Lynn, to Mo, to our pharmacist intern, Andrea, they just rocked. They were a real help, and the site would not have ran as smoothly as it did without them,” says Lt. Cmdr. Reed.
With a strong site opening, the Project HOPE volunteers keep an open eye, and open heart to those around them as time in Micronesia starts to wrap-up.