A SUPPORT group of nine Launceston General Hospital employees has returned from a week-long aid mission in Vanuatu.
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Three orthopaedic surgeons, three anaesthetists and three registered nurses volunteered their time at Port Vila Hospital as part of the federal government’s Pacific Island Program.
Registered nurse Paul Van Nynanten has been involved with the program for the past 12 years and has been joined by his wife, Jean, also a nurse, on four of those occasions.
The pair said they saw 90 outpatients and assisted with 19 surgical operations during the seven-day stint.
Mr Van Nynanten said although they were able to perform the surgeries, they usually would have spent another week performing follow-up work.
‘‘It was just seven days this time, because of federal government cuts,’’ he said.
Their work not only included treating patients, sourced through consultation with Vanuatu services, but also mentoring surgeons and nurses in the country.
‘‘We were treating patients from some of the outer islands. For them to come in is a big commitment,’’ Mrs Van Nynanten said.
She said the locals were resilient people, and that some of the hospital staff were still without roofs on their homes after cyclone Pam hit in March.
Bass Liberal MHR Andrew Nikolic said the LGH staff made a practical and valuable contribution to the health outcomes of the country, and congratulated them for their dedication.
‘‘This is a wonderful way to help the people of our Pacific neighbour countries, and has helped many thousands of people for 20 years,’’ Mr Nikolic said.