Community Healthcare
Jul-Aug 2009
Tom Heller, GP, and Gwen Wilson, Community Nurse / Health Visitor / Midwife were the first pilot health volunteers. They were based in the southern atoll of Huvadhoo for 2 weeks and during this time they worked flat-out to inspect the health facilities, check the medical records and talk to staff at all levels across 4 islands in the area. They also visited Male' to gain a greater understanding of the country's broader health needs. They discussed health and environmental issues with a wide range of people, including health professionals, Government officials, students and young people as well as many other ordinary citizens, and the President himself.
They were able to explore possibilities for future volunteer health worker placements from the United Kingdom through the auspices of Friends of Maldives. In particular, they noted that further incremental improvements to the health of the people of the Maldives would come about through development of the education and training of Maldivian nurses, midwives, traditional birth attendants and community health workers, and through changes to the physical environment, including:
- Improved standards of refuse collection and waste disposal
- Sewerage treatment before discharge into the surrounding water
- Cleansing of domestic rainwater supply and storage mechanisms
- Targeting mosquitoes through breeding site reduction, selective killing of adult mosquitoes and community level health education and involvement in vector control activities
Tom Heller has continued to play an active part in recruiting and advising health volunteers to the Maldives.
Tom's two full reports can be viewed at :
Gwen Wilson is continuing her work by assisting in the development of a Community Public Health / Health Educator role. The proposal can be viewed at : Development of a community public health
