Latest News from Vava'u Island Group, Tonga
25th March 2008
| | |
Prince Wellington Ngu (Vava'u Hospital) - Laboratory
There is good news and bad news to report regarding the laboratory at Prince Wellington Ngu Hospital in Vava'u.
Mote, Tyson and Vite shaking hands at the Vava'u Hospital Lab.
First the good news: Pictured with the two laboratory technicians Timote Fakasi'i'eiki and Tavite 'Eteaki is Tyson Essenmacher, a visitor from California, U.S.A. Tyson has been residing in the Kingdom of Tonga for the past six months and has very generously donated $1500.00 to the hospital lab for the purchase of reagents for blood tests. It costs approx AUD$15,000.00 a year for reagents for the five basic biochemistry parameters of sodium, potassium, urea, glucose and creatinine. These five tests represent only ¼ of the number of tests done for a basic biochemistry analysis performed in any western or developed country. Unfortunately, there is no government funding available - all funds required for the purchase of the reagents must come from donations. Thanks to people like Tyson, the hospital blood testing program is able to continue. Anyone wishing to make a donation or who would like any information on the laboratory can e-mail:
Now the bad news: Sandie Safton, a visiting yachtie and highly skilled Medical Laboratory Scientist, has spent the last three years working at the Prince Wellington Ngu Hospital laboratory on a purely voluntary basis. Sandie has advised that she will be leaving Vava'u to take up a position in Australia to set up a laboratory for an independent pathology group in Caloundra, and is due to depart in early March 2008. Sandie has been instrumental in upgrading the lab after obtaining funding from the Calgary West Rotary Club and the Wild Rose Foundation in Canada and AusAID. Funding from the Friends of Prince Wellington Ngu Hospital, which collects funds donated by the local people of Vava'u, was also generously given to this project. The laboratory was able to purchase the special testing equipment needed to carry out a range of blood tests, something not possible to achieve in the past. The Vava'u Laboratory is now regarded as one of the best in the developing countries of the South Pacific. Equipment is up to date and the lab staff Moti and Vite have been trained to an international standard by Sandie. Special thanks to Sandie for her time and dedication to this extremely important service in the medical system of Vava'u. She will be missed by everyone, especially her fellow workers Moti and Vite. Good Luck and Ofa Atu from the people of Vava'u.
Sandie Safton, Mote and Vite. The new blood testing machine can be
seen to the left of Mote
Mote, Sandie, Tyson and Vite - Taken at the lab before Sandie is
due to leave for Australia.
| | |
