One of the many containers packed by DIK, Ballarat West and the Fa'fa'onga Club from Melbourne

A. The Twinning Program

Following the renewal of the contract with AusAID in May 2005, the twinning program has almost completed its first year.

Ø       Exchanges for 2004-5:  St John of GodHospital to Vaiola

·         September 05

Kylie Blake and Dr Temalesi King were a part of the dental team which is reviewed in a separate report by Dr David Goldsmith PHF

·         3-14 November 05

John Macdonald coincided his 14th visit with the delivery of two containers of equipment, sourced by St John of God Hospital and DIK in Geelong, and shipped by DIK. The staff at Vaiola thought John was Father Christmas as he disbursed these tow containers, making sure that every item got to its intended target. The goods he distributed were much needed.

He also undertook a one week school block for the ICU course at Vaiola.

·         20-27 Feb 2006

Ed Hingley , bioengineer from Chemtronics: recruited by John Macdonald from the firm who service ventilators for ICU at St John of God Hospital. Ed undertook repairs on three donated Siemen's ventilators, resuscitated them all and instructed the resident bioengineer Feleti Eki in their maintenance. He believes they should give many years of trouble free service.

He had other recommendations, especially re maintenance of the Oxygen Concentrator. I believe he would like to be continually involved, and for our part we see this as a real opportunity.

Ø       Exchanges for 2004-5:  Vaiola to St John of GodHospital

·         November 05

Lona Funakiuaisele: Surgical Nurse .             Learnt how to use different types of stoma bags and dressings at St John of God.  Exchange to Tonga from St John of God planned for second half of 2006 in area of stoma and wound care. 

Ilaisaane Ofamafi,: Medical Records.             Identified that medical records in Tonga needs more help (workshop), materials e.g. folders, fasteners, photocopier, whatever important to medical records.  Further training exchange scheduled from Tonga to St John of God in 2006.

Tuamelie Paea: Information technology.        Learnt much more than what was approved on the objectives. 

·         May 06: 

The following exchange is under way at present

Ms Milika Kailea Top ICU nurse

Mrs. Ailine Palu Fosita, Domestic Supervisor

Mrs. Ilaise Tuutafaiva, Junior Medical Recorder

Mr. Latuselu Tonga, Electrician

Mr. Sioeli (Joe) Manu, Dental equipment technician: Joe will arrive mid June, and will work with Peter Copp in Melbourne for 8 weeks.

B. Matching Grants

A further Matching Grant application will be lodged in time for a July 1^st appraisal.

• ·         to purchase equipment for the refurbishment of the dental clinic at Vava'u,
• ·         to purchase an endoscope for oral surgery,
• ·         to purchase a slit lamp for a donated laser
• ·         and to fund a container to ship these and donated goods

Funding support has come from

• The Rotary Club of Ballarat West
• The Rotary Club of Ballarat South,
• The Rotary Club of Frankston North (D9820) and from the
• DDF of Districts 9780 (Our district),
• DDF 9810 (East of Central Melbourne) and
• DDF 6900 (with Marietta Metro Rotary Club Georgia USA).

These very generous donors have offered over US$16,000 toward a budget total of US$29,306. The Rotary Foundation has been asked to provide a Matching Grant of the remaining US$13,000.

The extraordinary support of the Foundation for our Rotary Club has been ongoing over the 15 years of our program. I would encourage the members of our club to reciprocate that support by enrolling in the Centurion Club

C.  DIK

The very valuable role that DIK in Geelong plays in our program must not be overlooked. Apart from taking the hard work out of packing and arranging shipping, DIK is also a source of a fantastic amount of very valuable hospital and educational equipment. I have appended a copy of the manifest of one of the two containers we sent to Tonga last year, to illustrate what they are able to supply. There were 496 separate items in the first container!

They will be helping again in the next Rotary year, with another two containers, one to Vava'u and one to Vaiola in Nuku'alofa.

Mention should be made of two very significant items which have been donated this year; a set of two Daylight Development Units to develop X-Ray film; these were donated by the Radiology Dept at Ballarat Health Services, after our own Dr Cliff Trottman alerted us to their availability. These units were replaced simply because the Base had moved to solely digital X-Ray technology, rendering these units (which had cost $250,000 each), outdated.

St John of God Hospital will organise a container to ship these to Vaiola, and Mr Jim Graham, retired radiology equipment technician from St. Johns, has volunteered to install them as a RAWCS volunteer.

John Oswald
Vaiola Hospital Project Coordinator
The Rotary Club of Ballarat West D9780.