A TAIWANESE medical team concluded its two-week assignment in Honiara and Guadalcanal from June 17 to 26.
The mobile medical team comprised of a senior internal medicine doctor, Dr Wang, Tung-Heng (Professor); two nurses, Huang Teh-Huei and Lin Yu-Chau; two dentists, Fu Wan-Ru and Kuo Nai-Chi; and one oral hygienist Lan Tzu-Yu.
The team worked in cooperation with the National Referral Hospital in Honiara, Taiwan Health Centre in Honiara, and the Guadalcanal Dental Department.
They visited schools in Honiara and rural clinics on Guadalcanal.
Communities visited include Visale, Tanakuku primary school, Tau community, Numbau community, and Good Samaritan Hospital.
“The residents and students who received treatment and survey were grateful,” a statement the team issued at the completion of their assignment said.
“They thanked the medical team visit to help them who indeed need medical services, but their villages are far away from the related resources.”
Dentist Fu found there were high prevalence rate of dental caries of public and school aged children.
He said most residents did not recognise the vitality of oral hygiene; also not brush their teeth regularly and correctly.
“We have to educate individuals to be aware of the importance of keeping well oral hygiene habits,” he said.
The visit was funded by Taiwan Ministry of Health and Welfare, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital (KMUH).
Taiwanese ambassador in Honiara Victor Yu said a number of medical teams have visited Solomon Islands for past years to help local people.
“They help Solomon Islanders special medical consultations and treatments that are not yet available in the country,” Mr Yu said.
“Medical and Health is an essential part of cooperation between Taiwan and Solomon Islands and the medical team’s visiting is one of the several medical projects made yearly to Solomon Islands.”
Mr Yu also said that another mobile medical mission will visit Solomon Islands again and will conduct medical service to other provinces in October this year.