Vanuatu Cyclone Medical Relief
Donation protected
Cyclone Harold has devastated the Northern Islands of Vanuatu . Medical Santo is located in Luganville on the Island of Santo right in the centre of the destruction and is providing emergency medical aid to those affected by this disaster. Medical Santo desperately needs funds to provide this vital medical service and also to assist with providing meals, accomodation and support to affected families. This disaster has put enormous strain on Vanuatu Government Medical and support services and the medical and emergency health response from Charities such as Medical Santo is absolutely vital in treating injuries, ensuring ongoing treatment of acute and chronic conditions and providing support for families affected by the disaster. Medical Santo puts a particular focus on the needs of disabled people which becomes even more important at times such as this .
Your donations will go 100% to Medical Santo and be used solely for medical supplies and directly supporting families in need of food, sanitary goods and to make emergency repairs to homes. None of your donations will be used for salaries, repairs to Medical Santo infrastructure or the general running expenses of the clinic or to cover any of our overheads. Work is initially focussed in Luganville and as soon as travel is possible and safe will move out to remote areas.
Please note: Donations to this gofundme campaign are not Tax Deductible in Australia
A Brief Overview of the Medical Santo Charity.
Medical Santo is an NFP Charity for the purpose of working in partnership with the Vanuatu Government Ministry of Health to provide quality primary health services to the Northern Islands of Vanuatu and overall to seek to strengthen and build capacity into the whole health system in Vanuatu. Medical Santo is a Vanuatu Registered Charitable Association, Not For Profit with Vanuatu Business registration.
Medical Santo is governed locally in Vanuatu by a Committee that includes local Ni-Vanuatu members and the Australian founders. Medical Santo was formed on the 4th September 2012, and the first Medical Clinic located in Luganville, Santo opened to receive patients on the 23rd May 2013.
In addition to offering quality primary health care, our Santo clinic is vitally engaged in training of Ni-Vanuatu staff and providing education and training to community groups, government departments and businesses. More broadly we are striving to build capacity in existing health services through support of the Government hospital and Rural Health Clinics by providing volunteer staff, education, training and encouragement. Provision of these services is being accomplished through facilitating volunteer expatriate doctors and nurses to work in partnership with local people, medical staff and infrastructure to achieve significant outcomes for the health of the Ni-Vanuatu people.
Extract from Medical Santo 2019 Annual Report.
President’s Greeting
I have to start by thanking all of our very important medical volunteers, maintenance and other volunteers, as well as local and international supporters who provide the personnel, resources, equipment and finances that have allowed Medical Santo to provide much needed medical care to so many people in communities around Santo and the northern islands. The Medical Santo staff and volunteers have done an outstanding job in providing the medical services and support to the people of Vanuatu. Without the support, donations and the valuable time given by many people and organisations in Vanuatu, Australia, New Zealand and around the world, we would not exist. So again, to these organisations, companies, individuals and volunteers, thank you very much!
We have continued to support and supplement the Ministry of Health services whenever we are asked and we are able. 2019 was another big year for medical services, medications and treatment. After a very busy 2017 and 2018 with the extra workload of looking after many Ambae volcano evacuees Medical Santo focused once again on our provision of clinical services, rural outreach visits and support of the Northern Provincial Hospital.
After the pilot project in 2018, we continued our Community Based Rehabilitation project, employing and training 4 local ni-Vanuatu staff to search out and offer support to People Living With a Disability (PLWD) on Santo. This team provided advocacy and support for PLWD, their carers, their families and communities. Medical Santo provides a complete care service to this group of people by providing medical attention when required to help alleviate some serious and some not so serious medical conditions.
We have the use of 4 buildings for our clinic and volunteer accommodation, a necessity for our volunteers who provide their valuable expertise. We thank Churches of Christ in Queensland and some special Australian friends for providing these buildings and also thank the many volunteers who have maintained them. Churches of Christ in Queensland has been a major supporter in recent years and has enabled our Vanuatu work to become what it is today. Direct Relief in the USA have supported us with medical donations without which we would not be able to supply many patients with the medications and treatment they require. Many other companies, organisations, families and individuals have all joined us to be a part of Changing Lives in Northern Vanuatu. Medical Santo employed 10 ni-Vanuatu staff who have done an amazing job and they are learning new skills every week. Having a full time clinic manager and volunteer nurse helps enormously with the running and throughput of the clinic.
2020 will see some new challenges and structural changes to allow Medical Santo to meet the future needs, the expectations of the people and communities, as well as new outcomes and programs from the Ministry of Health.
Thank you one and all for your generous support of The Medical Santo Team and to the people living in Northern Vanuatu.
God Bless,
Allen Cox
President, Medical Santo Committee inc.
Vision Statement
Changing lives in Northern Vanuatu by Partnering in Sustainable Health Solutions
Mission Statement
To improve the health outcomes for the people in the Northern Islands through the supply of quality health services based out of the Medical Santo clinic in Luganville.
To expand our medical services into the rural communities on the Northern Islands.
To support the Ministry of Health by the providing volunteer medical personnel, specialists, doctors, midwives, nurses, paramedics and allied service specialists for integration into existing services.
To provide education, training and mentoring for the all medical staff to bring current medical information treatment and procedures into the mainstream of Vanuatu services and encourage and support staff to build capacity into the Vanuatu system.
Highlights
Strategic
2019 has been a year of growth. Responding to the many requests for visits to remote communities and growing our partnership with the Ministry of Health while working towards providing more Sustainable Health Solutions has led to us treating a record number of patients.
We continue to build and strengthen relationships with many local and overseas organisations that provide us with crucial support and enable us to deliver improved medical services. We are seeking a full time doctor to better manage the medical services based at our clinic in Luganville. Our full time clinic manager will continue to provide quality management and supervision to our medical work as our services continue to grow. A high priority for the us is to continually find medical volunteers, support staff, medical and non-medical companies, organisations and individuals to partner with us in bringing quality medical services to the North.
Financial
We have received many generous donations from people, companies and organisations from all around the world as well as local businesses and individuals who see and experience the outcomes of our charity work. Without this financial support we could not exist. Our donors are an integral part of the work of Medical Santo and it is only through this support that we have been able to achieve so much in 2019. In 2020 the needs will be greater, and we thank all our supporters for their continued support of this work.
Activity
The number of volunteers has grown this year and has allowed the clinic to operate and offer more services to more patients in more rural communities. We continue to be amazed with the quality of Specialists, Doctors, Midwives, Nurses, Paramedics and other Allied Health professionals from around the world who volunteer in the clinic and the numerous other skilled volunteers who support us.
The building situated behind the clinic has been renovated which has given us extra volunteer accommodation. Our available accommodation fits our requirements for the moment, but we have outgrown our clinic building. We are working in somewhat cramped conditions, so we are looking to expand these soon. We will need some willing volunteers to assist with this.
Looking Ahead
The health services that need to be provided in the Northern Islands of Vanuatu are growing at a steady rate. We need a full time doctor to come on board which will lift our service to the next level. We are receiving many more request for services to the outer islands.
2020 will bring some major changes to the management and structure of Medical Santo that will allow it to grow and serve the people in Vanuatu better. We have a good foundation, good relationships and outstanding medical services which has put the clinic and our rural field work on a firm footing. The changes coming in 2020 will allow us to grow our capacity to a new level and service capability.
With these steps going forward, we require the ongoing support of volunteers, organisations and individuals more than ever. We invite you to be a part of this service to the Vanuatu people.
Your donations will go 100% to Medical Santo and be used solely for medical supplies and directly supporting families in need of food, sanitary goods and to make emergency repairs to homes. None of your donations will be used for salaries, repairs to Medical Santo infrastructure or the general running expenses of the clinic or to cover any of our overheads. Work is initially focussed in Luganville and as soon as travel is possible and safe will move out to remote areas.
Please note: Donations to this gofundme campaign are not Tax Deductible in Australia
A Brief Overview of the Medical Santo Charity.
Medical Santo is an NFP Charity for the purpose of working in partnership with the Vanuatu Government Ministry of Health to provide quality primary health services to the Northern Islands of Vanuatu and overall to seek to strengthen and build capacity into the whole health system in Vanuatu. Medical Santo is a Vanuatu Registered Charitable Association, Not For Profit with Vanuatu Business registration.
Medical Santo is governed locally in Vanuatu by a Committee that includes local Ni-Vanuatu members and the Australian founders. Medical Santo was formed on the 4th September 2012, and the first Medical Clinic located in Luganville, Santo opened to receive patients on the 23rd May 2013.
In addition to offering quality primary health care, our Santo clinic is vitally engaged in training of Ni-Vanuatu staff and providing education and training to community groups, government departments and businesses. More broadly we are striving to build capacity in existing health services through support of the Government hospital and Rural Health Clinics by providing volunteer staff, education, training and encouragement. Provision of these services is being accomplished through facilitating volunteer expatriate doctors and nurses to work in partnership with local people, medical staff and infrastructure to achieve significant outcomes for the health of the Ni-Vanuatu people.
Extract from Medical Santo 2019 Annual Report.
President’s Greeting
I have to start by thanking all of our very important medical volunteers, maintenance and other volunteers, as well as local and international supporters who provide the personnel, resources, equipment and finances that have allowed Medical Santo to provide much needed medical care to so many people in communities around Santo and the northern islands. The Medical Santo staff and volunteers have done an outstanding job in providing the medical services and support to the people of Vanuatu. Without the support, donations and the valuable time given by many people and organisations in Vanuatu, Australia, New Zealand and around the world, we would not exist. So again, to these organisations, companies, individuals and volunteers, thank you very much!
We have continued to support and supplement the Ministry of Health services whenever we are asked and we are able. 2019 was another big year for medical services, medications and treatment. After a very busy 2017 and 2018 with the extra workload of looking after many Ambae volcano evacuees Medical Santo focused once again on our provision of clinical services, rural outreach visits and support of the Northern Provincial Hospital.
After the pilot project in 2018, we continued our Community Based Rehabilitation project, employing and training 4 local ni-Vanuatu staff to search out and offer support to People Living With a Disability (PLWD) on Santo. This team provided advocacy and support for PLWD, their carers, their families and communities. Medical Santo provides a complete care service to this group of people by providing medical attention when required to help alleviate some serious and some not so serious medical conditions.
We have the use of 4 buildings for our clinic and volunteer accommodation, a necessity for our volunteers who provide their valuable expertise. We thank Churches of Christ in Queensland and some special Australian friends for providing these buildings and also thank the many volunteers who have maintained them. Churches of Christ in Queensland has been a major supporter in recent years and has enabled our Vanuatu work to become what it is today. Direct Relief in the USA have supported us with medical donations without which we would not be able to supply many patients with the medications and treatment they require. Many other companies, organisations, families and individuals have all joined us to be a part of Changing Lives in Northern Vanuatu. Medical Santo employed 10 ni-Vanuatu staff who have done an amazing job and they are learning new skills every week. Having a full time clinic manager and volunteer nurse helps enormously with the running and throughput of the clinic.
2020 will see some new challenges and structural changes to allow Medical Santo to meet the future needs, the expectations of the people and communities, as well as new outcomes and programs from the Ministry of Health.
Thank you one and all for your generous support of The Medical Santo Team and to the people living in Northern Vanuatu.
God Bless,
Allen Cox
President, Medical Santo Committee inc.
Vision Statement
Changing lives in Northern Vanuatu by Partnering in Sustainable Health Solutions
Mission Statement
To improve the health outcomes for the people in the Northern Islands through the supply of quality health services based out of the Medical Santo clinic in Luganville.
To expand our medical services into the rural communities on the Northern Islands.
To support the Ministry of Health by the providing volunteer medical personnel, specialists, doctors, midwives, nurses, paramedics and allied service specialists for integration into existing services.
To provide education, training and mentoring for the all medical staff to bring current medical information treatment and procedures into the mainstream of Vanuatu services and encourage and support staff to build capacity into the Vanuatu system.
Highlights
Strategic
2019 has been a year of growth. Responding to the many requests for visits to remote communities and growing our partnership with the Ministry of Health while working towards providing more Sustainable Health Solutions has led to us treating a record number of patients.
We continue to build and strengthen relationships with many local and overseas organisations that provide us with crucial support and enable us to deliver improved medical services. We are seeking a full time doctor to better manage the medical services based at our clinic in Luganville. Our full time clinic manager will continue to provide quality management and supervision to our medical work as our services continue to grow. A high priority for the us is to continually find medical volunteers, support staff, medical and non-medical companies, organisations and individuals to partner with us in bringing quality medical services to the North.
Financial
We have received many generous donations from people, companies and organisations from all around the world as well as local businesses and individuals who see and experience the outcomes of our charity work. Without this financial support we could not exist. Our donors are an integral part of the work of Medical Santo and it is only through this support that we have been able to achieve so much in 2019. In 2020 the needs will be greater, and we thank all our supporters for their continued support of this work.
Activity
The number of volunteers has grown this year and has allowed the clinic to operate and offer more services to more patients in more rural communities. We continue to be amazed with the quality of Specialists, Doctors, Midwives, Nurses, Paramedics and other Allied Health professionals from around the world who volunteer in the clinic and the numerous other skilled volunteers who support us.
The building situated behind the clinic has been renovated which has given us extra volunteer accommodation. Our available accommodation fits our requirements for the moment, but we have outgrown our clinic building. We are working in somewhat cramped conditions, so we are looking to expand these soon. We will need some willing volunteers to assist with this.
Looking Ahead
The health services that need to be provided in the Northern Islands of Vanuatu are growing at a steady rate. We need a full time doctor to come on board which will lift our service to the next level. We are receiving many more request for services to the outer islands.
2020 will bring some major changes to the management and structure of Medical Santo that will allow it to grow and serve the people in Vanuatu better. We have a good foundation, good relationships and outstanding medical services which has put the clinic and our rural field work on a firm footing. The changes coming in 2020 will allow us to grow our capacity to a new level and service capability.
With these steps going forward, we require the ongoing support of volunteers, organisations and individuals more than ever. We invite you to be a part of this service to the Vanuatu people.
Fundraising team: Pacific Island Health and Education (3)
Gerry Weatherall
Organizer
Petrie QLD
Lyn Cox
Team member
Allen Cox
Team member
