Health Education in Chuuk, Micronesia

Volunteers Dr. Lynn Bemiller and Nurse Maureen Kisicki returned today after a 5-day stay on the remote island of Chuuk in the Federated States of Micronesia. The two were among the Pacific Partnership 2011 medical team that participated in health education exchange including presentations and mentoring experiences with local health care professionals.

“We had the opportunity to work with resident nurses on how to deal with pediatric care and mother/baby inpatient unites,” says Dr. Bemiller. “It was great to be able to help with long-reaching education that may help improve health for years to come.”

 

Kisicki, who has volunteered throughout the four-month Pacific Partnership 2011mission, had the opportunity to offer assistance during a birth while in Chuuk. “I witnessed an emergency C-section in the operating room with the delivery nurse and completed a head to toe newborn assessment with the nurse,” says Kisicki. “I loved working with the RN’s at Chuuk hospital. It was great that we were able to work together and take care of patients in the hospital. The nurses and I were very excited to learn from each other.”

Both Dr. Bemiller and Kisicki felt the 5-day heath education and mentoring experience was rewarding. “We really got to meet, understand and learn from the culture, which helped us better teach key medical procedures,” Kisicki adds.

All involved hoped it was another small step on a long road to better health for the people of Chuuk.