DEAR EDITOR, through your column I wish to acknowledge the recent 2018 Loloma Foundation Medical Mission to The Russell and Florida Islands.
The Bilikiki became the ‘mobile clinic’, for volunteers from Solomon Islands, the US and Australia providing free dental, optical, paediatric, women’s health, general medical and pharmacy services to over 2300 men, women and children of Central province.
The Bilikiki deck became the dental clinic, with dentists and dental nurses providing check ups, performing extractions and fillings, while a dental educator provided fun dental hygiene sessions with children, followed by fluoride treatments and distribution of toothbrushes.
The eye doctors provided vision checks, referrals where needed to the Fred Hollows clinic in Honiara, issued reading glasses, and sunglasses for children. The paediatrician and general doctors provided checkups, referrals to NRH, and administered medication where needed.
The Women’s Health doctors, nurses and educators undertook menstrual health education, distributed re-useable pad kits and performed pap smears for cervical cancer checks.
It was a privilege to be part of the team of local and international medical and health volunteers supplementing the health care available to Solomon Islanders.
Annie Knappstein
(2013-2015 AVID Volunteer, SICCP, Honiara)
South Australia
