In 2017, I was invited to implement the National Oral Health Survey in some remote locations in Vanuatu. One of these were the Torres Islands in the very far North of Vanuatu. The trip had to be delayed in 2017 due to Cyclone Donna creating havoc on this group of Islands…
These islands are so very remote and the people have no access to oral health services.
One of their health workers died in July 2017 from a preventable oral health problem. The communities here wish to have less pain and be less vulnerable with plans underway to return August 2018 to provide solutions they want to implement which best fit the needs of these five islands. Early solutions are will be to provide more relief from pain and to ensure their pikinini have access to appropriate clinical treatment/s including preventive measures.
April Update: Thanks to the International College of Dentists for their generous grant, I will return with a team in August 2018 to implement a fissure sealant and tooth brushing project to the children on Loh as well as provide more access to relieve dental pain to the community.
It will also be a pleasure to introduce Dr Richard, eye surgeon from VOSO to this group of islands as well as take as many basket blong titi from Uplift NZ
A friend of Kokorosa toktok smol with Breton from Loh Island