Empowering doctors to help Samoa

By Aruna Lolani 16 June 2017, 12:00AM

Members of the Pacific Island Orthopedic Association are gathering in Samoa for two weeks at the Tupua Tamasese Meaole Hospital.

The team of doctors and surgeons is lead by the Director of Training for P.I.O.A Dr. Des Soares.

Among the team in Samoa are three Samoan doctors. 

The programme in Samoa aims to train doctors to deal with modern fracture management and orthopaedic care.

Dr. Soares said the programme aims to provide a training route for doctors who are interested to be trained as orthopaedics.

 “We have eighteen students who are under this education and the purpose of this training is to educate those doctors,” he said.

 “There are only three doctors from Samoa and they are doing very well. We are training these guys to take care of your own people. 

The training programme will run for four years.

 “The course will be delivered in twelve live-in modules each lasting two weeks which are compulsory.

 “That is there would be 3 modules each year held in February, June and October for 4 years. 

“In addition candidates would be provided with web-based learning materials related to each module to enable them to prepare prior to coming for the live in module.”

He went on to praise the learning facilities at T.T.M. Hospital.

He also spoke highly of Dr. Areta Samuelu and Dr. Alfredo Adams for their hard work assisting with organising the module.

For Dr. Areta Samuelu, his goal is to learn so can continue to help the people of Samoa.

 “This is the first time for the Pacific to have a programme such as this,” Dr. Samuelu said.

 “So they are trying their best to choose doctors and surgeons that are able to do this work and network with other people in the same line of work.

 “It takes us four years to complete this programme and then we study to achieve our Masters Degree.

 “We’ve had this programme for a week now here in Samoa and I think it’s good because I’m aware of the fact that there’s an increase in the number of people who have orthopaedic disorders in Samoa; both adults and children.

 “It’s good for us to learn about this so we can treat our own patients, our own people who have orthopaedic disorders.

 “It also benefits our country in a way that it can improve our services in the health expertise.”

Dr. Stephen Kodovaru from the Solomon Islands became the first graduate from the P.I.O.A. to successfully complete the program,e. The next modules will be held in Honiara and Madang.

 

By Aruna Lolani 16 June 2017, 12:00AM

Trending Stories

Samoa Observer

Upgrade to Premium

Subscribe to
Samoa Observer Online

Enjoy unlimited access to all our articles on any device + free trial to e-Edition. You can cancel anytime.

>