Preparing For Malaria Testing

As the USS Cleveland made its way to Vanuatu, the Project HOPE volunteers used their time onboard to participate in training on how to conduct fast Malaria testing. The volunteers and other medical crew members onboard practiced a pin prick test that draws just a small amount of blood, and learned the proper way to put the blood on a tester. When done correctly, clear results indicating Malaria or No Malaria can be read in 15 minutes.

This training is very important the HOPE volunteers and the rest of the crew on Pacific Partnership 2011 because one of the major health concerns in Vanuatu is Malaria.

“The training was very helpful and I know it will be useful when working with patients in Vanuatu,” says HOPE volunteer Aislinn Mangan.

While practicing the new technique, fellow volunteer Maureen Kisicki also got some reassurance on her own health. “It took me two times to complete the test, but I did it and I don’t have Malaria,” Kisicki says.

With work in Vanuatu now underway, volunteers are treating patients, providing health education and offering HOPE.