Traditional medicine only option for remote island kids.

By: Wendy Stenberg-Tendys

[ Posted On: 2008-07-09 ]

In the archipelago of Vanuatu, set in the blue of the South Pacific, the far, northern tropical islands are so remote that the basic supplies for a healthy life are lacking.

The herbal remedies from their plentiful surrounds have sustained these people for many centuries. The healing faith of the community medicine man has supported the community. Whilst the power of black magic has been blamed for many illnesses.

At long last the people of Motolava Island have a volunteer with basic first aid knowledge. She has arrived from a nearby island replaced there by a doctor, provided via a charitable organization. The empty shelves of the shack that acts as the local clinic is the first thing that strikes her as she steps through the doorway. There are no dressings, no bandages, no disinfectant, and no ointments – just a few headache tablets.

She surveys the smiling, laughing children playing in the village. A boy of 8 years has an open wound incurred from a stake in the bush. A 6 year old girl, one of many, is suffering from scabies. A 10 year old limps across the bare earth as if he has always walked in this manner. Mothers cuddle and cajole babies racked with deep seated coughs. Where does the volunteer start?

Her initial tour of the village finds him peering into the huts built directly on the hard-packed soil. He sees a child curled on hand-woven mats whimpering with the fever of malaria. The recent accentuated ’wet’ season from December to April has seen the mosquitoes breed fervently. In this region malaria is common place.

Professor Sir Richard Feachem, the chair of AusAID’s malaria reference group, has stated that the biggest killer of children throughout Melanesia is malaria. But there are high hopes for Vanuatu, in his eyes, as recent blood tests identified that only 3% of 5000 children tested had been in contact with malaria. Further plans, projects and money are to be made available in the hope of making the region disease-free by 2015. But when will these remote, northern islands see the benefit? How many more children will succumb?

These islanders are unable to buy the latest in medicines, to purchase chemically treated mosquito nets, and to access staff trained in supporting communities. A ‘no-cash economy’ provides no purchase power. Harris Arop, the local Secretary for Motolava, suggests that he contacts one group that can help. He uses the village’s only solar powered phone to call the capital, Port Vila, and the YouMe Support Foundation.

YouMe Support Foundation, a Child Trust Fund, has since 2004 been assisting the islands. It is dedicated to giving the children an educated life, putting a high school education within reach. As well as encouraging a healthy lifestyle.

In response to Harris’ urgent request, the YouMe Support Foundation gathered together 30kgs of basic medical supplies. Air freight was organized – ships can take weeks to get to these islands. But like many good plans in Vanuatu, the boxes sit packed, taped and addressed under the office windows.

Transportation and communication is random to these outer northern islands. Perhaps the flight did not go due to a lack of paying passengers, or perhaps there was a priority elsewhere. It often takes months for shipping to reach these destinations too.

While waiting, the volunteer begins work with the villagers. There is a need to educate the people in the prevention of illnesses – one of his main tasks. To do this the children need to be able to read and write. “Good health” ideas taught to the children in school will go into their homes and communities as skills and knowledge for all. All that is available is basic primary education, but this can be added a health program.

In late 2007 the government acknowledged that it was unable to fund education and resources in these regions. Education is at a premium across the northern, tropical isolated islands of Vanuatu. Throughout Vanuatu children miss out on an education. Education is not free and remains beyond the realm of those on meager or no incomes.

The dire consequences of this are:

• only 55.8% of Vanuatu kids will get to grade 6;

• of those only 18.2% will go to high school ;

• 26% will never go to school at all.

Rick and Wendy Tendys, the founders of YouMe Support Foundation, are raffling Seachange Lodge (a private holiday home, plus 6 luxury holiday apartments) on the Internet, to raise funds for non-repayable high school education grants for the children of the outer islands of Vanuatu. This is a World First, Blue Moon Opportunity that will change someone’s life, as well as the lives of these children.

Vanuatu is only three hours flight from Sydney, Australia.

Article Source: http://www.afroarticles.com/article-dashboard

About The Author: Dr Wendy Stenberg-Tendys & her husband are CEO of YouMe Support Foundation, providing non-repayable high school education grants for kids who will never have the opportunity to have an education without outside assistance...A once in a life time Blue Moon Opportunity for someone to own their own private holiday home, plus 6 luxury holiday apartments, while assisting these children to gain an education. Visit: winaresort.com | youmesupport.com

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