Each facility’s remote location (between 1.5 - 3 hours drive from the nearest hospital in Savusavu) required overcoming ongoing communication, coordination and physical access challenges – which have been gratefully accomplished – due to all of our partners (and never-ending local Community) support!
Bagasau, Naweni and Navakaka Health Centres can now better service the basic healthcare needs of ~6000 people -each Centre treating 15-45 patients per day (including child births)- with the support of 9 Community Health Workers (CHWs) per facility (untrained local volunteers who are the first point of contact in every injury or illness emergency). We can all now proudly tout that because of this project, another (28) CHWs (of 185 total in the province) have now successfully passed the training & received their Internationally- recognised 3-year ‘Basic First Aid/CPR Certification’ by the Red Cross Society of Fiji (May 27, 2022)! *see separate 5.22 CPR pics.pdf
As these remote health centres are also tasked with non-emergency services such as vaccine deployment, maternity care, critical ongoing life-support such as dressing sores of invalid/elderly diabetes patients and administering shots for up to 50 children, 3x/week who suffer from rheumatoid heart disease, they rely heavily on their Community Health Workers, who walk 3-5 hours a day, 2-3 days a week on tracks or unpaved roads to service these disabled patients.
Working with the global community & perspective
The Rotary Club of Savusavu has sponsored Basic First Aid/CPR certification training for CHWs since 2016 –106 CHWs prior to, and with this project’s added 28, Now a total of 134 CHWs being BFA/CPR Certified!
Besides their international BFA/CPR certification expiring in 3 years, the CHWs should as well refresh their training, as precise methods change every few years – as did this year! There have been multiple incidents documented to date, of life-saving actions by these BFA/CPR trained CHWs who had the knowledge & confidence to quickly ‘make the difference’...Thus RCSSV will continue to fundraise to sponsor this program for the foreseeable future. RCSSV had also sponsored (only 25) Basic First Aid kits for CHWs for the first time, beginning this year. Most remote health centres however truly needed the supplies in the kits themselves, so gratefully opted to keep the kits ‘in-house’ rather than give to their CHWs. Due to this project, we have now another (30) portable BasicFirstAid supply kits distributed directly to the ‘Most Active’ CHWs – bringing our total FA supply kits donated to remote healthcare centres & CHWs to date, to 55! *see separate HealthCentres’ pics.pdf
Vinaka vakalevu (thank you very much) for making this happen!
The (small but mighty) Rotary Club of Savusavu’s 12 local members passionately endeavor to execute viable solutions for our Community’s greatest needs & benefit. Without your (& our local volunteers) support, none of our lofty goals for basic resources & services (taken for granted in the ‘First World’) for our beloved community, would have come to fruition - We more than appreciate your generosity & hope you will choose to eventually come witness first hand, the direct and quantifiable impact you make!
Please see financial summary on pg. 6 and Wish list below – Pictures depicting (a fraction of) the results of your goodwill sent as Google Drive Links *under separate covers* (due to non-negotiable huge data file sizes)!
Navakaka Health Centre
Service population: 2097 Staff: 1 Snr. Nurse and 9 Community Health Workers
|
Area of PRIOR need |
Details Accomplished |
|---|---|
|
CLEAN WATER |
New (ONLY functional) 5300L Water tank installed w/all plumbing connections & taps. Replaced (2) unstable Water tank cement bases (for also adjacent Nurse’s quarters) 10.22 Existing huge cement cistern ‘filtration’system has not worked since Cyclone Winston 2016 |
|
POWER - SOLAR |
New Solar System installed to working order incl. wiring, elec & balance of all: |
|
REFRIGERATION |
20yr old gas-powered Fridge (not working for 6 mos & not repairable) replaced with New energy-efficient Fridge for vaccine & meds storage, powered by new Solar system. |
|
BUILDING UPGRADE |
Interior leaking ‘Hole’ repair > Requiring Entire Roof replaced!J |
|
FURNITURE |
Replace chest of drawers that is made of particleboard/disintegrating- (2) New Cabinet sets & New addt’l Shelving for critical Storage! We have & will keep pushing MOH to provide proper patient/birthing BED, mattress&pillow! |
|
MEDICAL EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES |
Basic first aid kits for nurse and CHWs; (previously had to use outdoor waiting area Benches) |
|
TRAINING |
Basic First Aid/CPR training/certification by Red Cross Society for nurse and health workers |
New Solar System on New Roof 4.22 New Cabs, Shelving, Windows, lights, Fridge, FA kits, BP monitor & Stethoscope 10.22
Naweni Health Centre
Service population: 2124 Staff: 1 Snr. Nurse and 9 Community Health Workers
|
Area of PRIOR need |
Details Accomplished |
|---|---|
|
CLEAN WATER |
Cleaned, hooked up to roof & installed Strainer caps for 2 water tanks for rainwater backup; Community spring water to primary tank secured with ball floater; Installed extra outdoor tap. 4-10.22 |
|
POWER SUPPLY – SOLAR |
New Solar System installed to working order incl. wiring, elec & Balance of all: (2) 280W (24V) Mono Panels= 560W TOTAL; (2) 250AH 12V Batteries (Gel); |
|
REFRIGERATION |
20yr old gas-powered Fridge (not working for 6 mos & not repairable) replaced with New energy efficient Fridge for vaccine & meds storage, powered by new Solar system 5.22! |
|
BUILDING UPGRADE |
Installed drainage for always-flooding bath/toilet rooms 10.22 |
|
FURNITURE |
(3) New sets of Shelves for critical storage, replaced 4.22 |
|
MEDICAL EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES |
Basic First Aid supply kits for Head Nurse & CHWs 4.22 & 10.22; New temporary mechanical baby scale 10.22; |
|
TRAINING |
Basic First Aid/CPR training/certification by Red Cross Society for Head Nurse and CHWs 5.22 |
New (Solar-powered) Fridge 5.21, New Shelves (1of2) for Storage! 6.22, Thakor BP monitor + Snr Nurse Sera 9.22
Bagasau Health Centre
Service population: 1453 Staff: 1 Snr Nurse and 9 Community Health Workers
|
Area of PRIOR need |
Details Accomplished |
|---|---|
|
CLEAN WATER |
Cleaned 5 water tanks; Replaced spring & rainwater lines and rotten high Tank platform; Installed new Strainers for large debris; Cistern floater & connected new Filter to main water line. 6 new cement blocks installed to secure outdoor wash tubs 12.21 |
|
POWER SUPPLY |
New Solar System installed to working order incl. wiring, elec & Balance of all: (2) 280W (24V) Mono Panels= 560W TOTAL; (1) 1500 W Pure Sin Wave 24V Inverter; (1) mppt 30amp Controller; (2) 250AH 12V Batteries (Gel); (2) 12V (18W) Bulb Lights with holder; (2) 240 W Power Points Mounting - aluminum with cyclone grade fasteners Basic Service if needed for 1 yr included 5.22 |
|
REFRIGERATION |
20yr old gas-powered Fridge (not working for 9 mos) Replaced with New energy-efficient Fridge for vaccine & meds storage powered by Solar! 5.22 |
|
BUILDING UPGRADE |
Fixed toilet 12.21 |
|
MEDICAL EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES |
Basic First Aid supply kits for Snr. Nurse and CHWs delivered 3.22 & 10.22 New analog BP monitor & stethoscope & New temporary mechanical baby scale delivered 10.22 – GREAT THANKS! |
|
TRAINING |
Basic First Aid/CPR training/Certification by Red Cross Society for Head nurse and CHWs 5.22 |
New Fridge-Solar powered! 5.22, Nurse Licea & Top CHW FAkits, BP monitor + 10.22, Cleaned Tanks & Reinforced Stand 12.21