Think Pacific was delighted to be part of an initiative to bring an ultra sound machine to a remote Fijian hospital.
The donation of the ultra sound, worth over three hundred thousand dollars, was organsied by local resident John Milesi of the Levuka Homestay on behalf of The Levuka Hospital Board of Visitors.
A message was sent out by John to to ask for the assistance of past gap year students, volunteers and tourists who had been to, and fallen in love with, this very special Fijian town.
Levuka hospital, Ovalau Island, is the closest medical facility to our gap year volunteers in Fiji. The medical staff in Levuka offer a fantastic backup support to our gap year teams and Think Pacific’s staff have had a strong connection to this beautiful South Pacific town for over ten years.
The ultra sound machine is an incredible donation by Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Aylesbury, England, and was acquired through former UK exchange medical student in Levuka, and now a fully qualified doctor, Dr Johnny Wake.
Dr Wake volunteered in Levuka Hospital many years ago where he met Simon from Think Pacific, who was at that time, teaching in a secondary school in Levuka as part of his own gap year. Many years later, it’s great to revive old connections and after hearing the plight of Levuka Hospital and Dr Wake to enable this vital medical equipment to reach Levuka, Think Pacific were delighted to assist in any way we could.
Think Pacific donated the funding required to enable the Ultra Sound to be transported from the UK to the South Pacific.
Seeing the machine in full use this week was a great moment, so massive congratulations to Dr Wake, the Levuka Homestay and other parties, who worked extremely hard to make this donation possible.
Donations like this from Think Pacific are only possible due to the gap year students we take to Fiji so a vinaka also to everyone who has volunteered with us this year as your hard eaned gap year expedition fees have contributed to this great achievement.
