Pacific Partnership 2014 Begins in Indonesia

Rose Wilson is a nurse and second-time Project HOPE volunteer from Melbourne, Australia.  She is volunteering on the first rotation of Pacific Partnership 2014 in Indonesia.  Rose was awarded the 2013 bronze Volunteer of the Year award by Project HOPE for her exceptional performance as a volunteer on Pacific Partnership 2013.

The Indonesian rotation of Pacific Partnership 2014 is a 17-day, land-based mission. We are situated in the province of East Nusa Tenggara, on the island of Timor, working with clinics and hospitals in Kupang and Rote.  Our three-person Project HOPE team is working closely with Gary Glauberman, a public health specialist from the University of Hawaii and members of the United States, Singapore and New Zealand military. 

First time Project HOPE volunteers Colleen Counsell, NP, and Dr. Joseph Knight bring a wealth of clinical experience to the team. Colleen, a nurse manager from Florida, specializes in critical care, trauma, aging and medical surgical nursing. Dr. Knight is an infectious disease specialist who has extensive international experience and considerable expertise in the areas of pharmacology, pain management and pediatrics. Both are very eager to work with their Indonesian counterparts on eight days of clinical education.

On Monday the 26th of May Pacific Partnership Indonesia’s official opening ceremony started with a joint forces military parade. The US and New Zealand military members of Pacific Partnership joined the Indonesia military in marching and inspection exercises. After both the Surgeon General of the Indonesian Army and the Commodore for Pacific Partnership South, Admiral Moore spoke, everyone was invited onto the field to dance the Indonesian version of the electric slide. Needless to say, the Indonesians were much better at it than anyone from Pacific Partnership. A breakfast followed, in which we enjoyed traditional Indonesian breakfast food and music and had the opportunity to meet and talk with our Indonesian counterparts.

Tuesday was a public holiday in Kupang, and Project HOPE joined the rest of PP14 in a sports day with the Indonesia military and their family. We started with some Zumba, or as the Indonesian’s call it ‘Booty Attack’. We did stretching and some more of the Indonesian electric slide. The rest of the morning was taken up with tug-of-war, futsul, volleyball and soccer. Project Hope volunteers were enthusiastic spectators and spent a lot of time getting to know more about Kupung and Indonesian culture. The afternoon was spent getting ready for our events starting Wednesday, which include a nurses’ conference and a doctors’ primary care conference. Everyone is excited to begin our work with the Indonesian doctors and nurses.