Pacific Update

Anaesthetist with NZ Defence Force in Vanuatu

MAJ Graham Sharpe, Anaesthetist and former President of the NZSA, MAJ Burton King, Surgeon, and CVHS Janine Weils, Nurse recently served at Lunganville Town Hospital, Vanuatu. http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1105/S00118/nz-defence-force-performs-surgeries-in-vanuatu.htm

Medical Equipment Donated

Cook Island health officials Heather Webber-Aitu and Zaw Aung say they are "wrapt" to have worked with New Zealand medical professionals, Ted Hughes, Ivan Batisich, and Bernard Fouke, which has resulted in New Zealand hospitals donating $400,000 worth of medical equipment to the Cook Islands, as reported in the Cook Island News, 26 February. "Auckland District Health Board and Gillies Avenue Hospitals donated anaesthesia machines. The IVENT equipment company was extremely supportive and its Director, Ivan Batisich, who took part in the NZSA inspection in 2009, went with the NZSA Rarotonga inspection team and attended to some of the dis-assembled anaesthesia machines for free" said Dr Hughes, who led the inspection team and is a member of the NZSA Executive Committee. Neville and Jenni Puckey, pharmacists in Rarotonga, helped to organise the effort.

http://www.cinews.co.ck/2010/March/Wed03/other.htm#1002260703