Kiribati
Tarawa Attol
The Republic of Kiribati is a Pacific island country in Micronesia which sits across the equator. The population is around 120,000 with the most populous part being the Tarawa atoll. The country is made up of 32 atolls and one remote island spread across nearly 3.5 million square kilometres of the Pacific. The capital Tarawa is nearly 4,000km northeast of Brisbane and at its most easterly point is south of Hawaii. Kiribati is one of the least developed countries in the world.
ANZGITA has engaged with Kiribati in cooperation with Hepatitis B Free which is focussing on the existing large HepB clinical burden. The first visit, following an invitation from the Director General of Health, was in 2023 to scope out the situation and determine whether a continuing endoscopy training program was requested and justified. Two directors, Dr Robyn Nagel and Ms Di Jones RN, conducted the visit. Following their report, the ANZGITA Board decided that subject to funding availabilty it would commence a multi-year program in 2024.
ANZGITA has engaged with Kiribati in cooperation with Hepatitis B Free which is focussing on the existing large HepB clinical burden. The first visit, following an invitation from the Director General of Health, was in 2023 to scope out the situation and determine whether a continuing endoscopy training program was requested and justified. Two directors, Dr Robyn Nagel and Ms Di Jones RN, conducted the visit. Following their report, the ANZGITA Board decided that subject to funding availabilty it would commence a multi-year program in 2024.
L to R: Ms Di Jones RN (ANZGITA), Dr Bukitua Teuea and Dr Robyn Nagel (ANZGITA)
The 2023 program was at the Tungaru Central Hospital (TCH), Bonriki, Tarawa. Amongst others, the team worked with physician Dr Bukitua Teuea (pictured) who is in her final year of MMed at Fiji National University. She had attended the 2022 Fiji ANZGITA program at the WGO Training Centre which draws attendees from a number of Pacific Island countries. So this was a good opportunity to build on her skills attained at that program.
Endoscopy equipment is Olympus 190 series. Di Jones gave a series of lectures to nurses on a range of endoscopy topics. There were a range of discussions on various clinical aspects with physicians and surgeons.
The first program for 2024 will be in July with one doctor and one nurse. These trainers will focus on endoscopy but with back up if need be from the Hepatitis B Free team. Another program is proposed for later this year arounf November or early December. Our thanks to GENCA, whose grant in late 2023 meant we could progress with this extension to our our program set in the confidence of securing near term funding.
Endoscopy equipment is Olympus 190 series. Di Jones gave a series of lectures to nurses on a range of endoscopy topics. There were a range of discussions on various clinical aspects with physicians and surgeons.
The first program for 2024 will be in July with one doctor and one nurse. These trainers will focus on endoscopy but with back up if need be from the Hepatitis B Free team. Another program is proposed for later this year arounf November or early December. Our thanks to GENCA, whose grant in late 2023 meant we could progress with this extension to our our program set in the confidence of securing near term funding.