Pacific Community-Led Health Missions Arrive with Critical Support to Tonga and Kiribati Grappling with COVID-19 Surges — Global Issues
CANBERRA, Australia, 3 May (IPS) – Before the pandemic broke out in 2020, health services in many Pacific island nations were under-resourced, underfunded and staffed. Now, following the recent outbreaks of COVID-19, capacity building and development of health and health services in vulnerable countries, such as Tonga and Kiribati, are increasing. necessary.
In the central Pacific atoll nation of Kiribati, the number of virus infections has skyrocketed from zero to more than 3,000 since the start of the year. Meanwhile, the Polynesian kingdom of Tonga was hit earlier this year by a devastating underground volcanic eruption and then a COVID-19 spike.
“Ash and tsunami from the volcanic eruption affected an estimated 84% of the population across the whole of Tonga” Office of Prime Minister of Tongan Siaosi Sovaleni announced at the end of January.
The deployment of medical and medical professionals to Tonga and Kiribati in February by the regional development organization, Pacific Community, have proven to be important support missions.
“Tonga is in a unique and unprecedented scenario. It is facing three events: volcanic eruptions, tsunamis and COVID-19 outbreaks. They are all related to each other. We are in Tonga responding to the COVID-19 outbreak, helping to ensure the quality of COVID-19 testing is maintained, desiring to be free of contamination, to aid in infection prevention and control,” said Dr. Dr. Sunia Thamai, Deputy Director of Pacific Community Health Division told IPS from Tonga.
Tonga, an archipelagic nation of 104,494 people in the south Pacific, has long managed to contain the pandemic, recording its first COVID-19 case only last October. Then on January 15, Hunga Tonga Underwater Volcano Hunga Ha’apai, located 65 kilometers northeast of the country’s main island of Tongatapu, erupted violently, ejecting large amounts of volcanic ash into the atmosphere and triggering widespread tsunamis. Many islanders have been affected by health problems, such as shortness of breath and heart disease, loss of food sources or forced relocation.
However, when the whole world came together to help, disaster recovery efforts complicated by a spike during the pandemic. As of April 20, Tonga records 9,220 cases of COVID-19 and 11 related deaths.
While compatriots receive free public health care, the island nation has limited medical infrastructure and human resources. “We are providing support to three hospitals located on the outer islands of Tonga to increase their capacity in COVID-19 testing. That involves assisting them in collecting samples and, if necessary, transporting them to locations where equipment is available for testing… We have also been asked to conduct a thorough review of medical processes and procedures. economic conditions of the country, such as handling the dead, isolating the requirements and procedures regarding the return of health care workers to work after a positive COVID-19 diagnosis,” said Dr. describe. “And we’re working to ensure that other health services continue to be available to patients who don’t have COVID.”
SPC is a member of the multi-agency Joint Incident Management Team led by the World Health Organization (WHO) under the World Health Organization (WHO) and provides a range of support services, including capacity building health system, improve the training and qualifications of health workers in the region, and operate new medical research.
“The team that was just deployed to Tonga was very timely. They come when there is a lot of demand for testing in our lab. This was before the Rapid Antigen test was widely used to check. Dr Ana Akau’ola, Medical Director of Main Vaiola Hospital in Tonga’s capital Nuku’alofa, told IPS.
Earlier this year, Elisiva Na’ati, a nutritionist from the Pacific Community visited the country to assist with recovery efforts following the volcanic disaster. Dr Akau’ola added: “She came when there was a need to develop nutritional recommendations for islanders displaced by the tsunami.
Across the vast Pacific Ocean, which includes 22 island nations and territories with a combined population of about 11.9 million, the Pacific Community’s role in the pandemic, for many islanders, is different. distinction between life and death. Many national governments work with limited budgets, so funding and resources for health, with specialized and adequate hospital services are often only available in the main urban centres.
Only 12 of the 21 Pacific island countries have met the global target of 4.5 health workers per 1,000 inhabitants and national health expenditure per capita in 10 Pacific countries of US$500. or less, compared with the world average of $1,000, WHO report. Not only are the islanders suffering from the virus, but also those with other serious illnesses, such as tuberculosis, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, who are experiencing overcrowded clinics and hospitals.
Since the pandemic emerged, the Pacific Community has provided countries with the laboratories, medical technology and skills to test for COVID-19, supported immunization initiatives, enhanced strengthen the capacity of nurses to assume greater responsibility and strengthen national capacity to monitor emerging public health threats.
On the atoll of Kiribati, home to approximately 119,940 people, SPC health and medical professionals have worked alongside local healthcare workers, patients and international partners, such as UNICEF , WHO and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, provided funding.
The country managed to keep COVID-19 from crossing its borders until January when its first case was identified as an incoming tourist. By April 20, 2022, Kiribati had diagnosed 3,076 cases of the virus in the country with 13 deaths.
“We entered the country at its peak. We are here to assist in the preparation of the wards, to assist with training in the use of PPE. We set up isolation centers for patients in the community because the beds are full. We have also worked with airport and border control officers, helping them to make practical and effective use of PPE, such as disposable gowns,” said Margaret Leong, Infection Prevention and Control Advisor. of the Pacific Community, who were deployed to Kiribati in February, told IPS.
“Some of the problems and challenges they face are medical staff fatigue and psychological stress. Employees are sick, so there is not enough medical staff at peak times. This puts a strain on the rest of the medical staff,” Leong continued.
Simultaneously, Dr Lamour Hansell led the Clinical Care Services section of SPC, which helps manage COVID patients in the intensive care service. “We have established a new hospital for COVID patients, providing new infrastructure. An old hotel has been found and turned into a critical care facility. The Intensive Care Unit is located in the main lobby of the hotel and it’s one of the best I’ve worked in,” Dr Hansell told IPS.
The work is relentless, constant and demanding, but Dr. Hansell has only praise for his local colleagues, who, he says, are flexible and adaptable under pressure. professionally and personally. He witnessed many brave and powerful moments from his colleagues, recalling that “one of the doctors had to treat and manage his own grandmother with COVID-19. It’s a very humbling thing to see, very humbling and inspiring,” he insisted.
The number of new virus infections has slowed in both countries since early April, but internal lockdown restrictions still apply. While the Pacific Community’s domestic missions responded to the height of the crisis, the organization is accessible year-round to provide virtual support, logistics and advice to the island nations of Thailand. Binh Duong whenever needed.
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