N.Z. Army team flies woman to hospital

Press, 13 September 1988, Page 5

N.Z. Army team flies woman to hospital

By

CHRISTOPHER MOORE

in the Solomon Islands

Mary and Alaberti Anta will probably never forget the day the Niu Zealan Army came to Taro Village on Choiseul Island.

Mary Anta became the focus of an emergency air lift from the remote western corner of the Solomon Islands 24 hours after the Royal New Zealand Army Medical Corps 1 Medical Support Team arrived a week ago to launch Operation Solmed, an aid assistance programme to the Solomon Islands involving 19 days of medical and health operations throughout the region in partnership with Solomon Island authorities. Shortly after arriving at Henderson Field on Guadalcanal, an advance party at Taro contacted the base headquarters. Mrs Mary Anta had been suffering severe abdominal pains for 11 days.

In spite of attempts by the island’s local health worker to treat the condition with antibiotics, her condition appeared to be

worsening and she had to be taken to Honiara Hospital within 48 hours.

A R.N.Z.A.F. Andover left Henderson a few hours later. On board were a Waikato Hospital anaethetist and territorial Army officer, Major Geoff Gordon, and an Army operating theatre sister, Lieutenant Georgina Parata, of Waiouru. The only alternative to the mercy flight was a long boat trip from Choiseul to Guadalcanal, a voyage of several days. Within 90 minutes the Andover was sweeping down on to Taro’s grass air strip. After being greeted by local islanders and the island’s administration officer, Mr Manus Lapo, Dr Gordon was examining his patient in the shade of the small concrete airport shelter. His preliminary diagnosis

revealed a possible abscessed liver.

Accompanied by her husband, Alaberti, Mrs Anta was carried on board the Andover for the return flight to Henderson Field and a waiting ambulance.

In spite of her pain and nervousness, Mrs Anta remained cheerful throughout the flight. The flight was described later by Honiara Hospital staff as “justifiable.” Apart from her liver complaint, Mrs Anta was found to be suffering from malaria and other infections.

The emergency highlights the problems faced by Solomon Island health authorities — the distance between the scattered island communities and the isolation of many communities. For many of the doctors, nursing staff

and support crews involved in Operation Solmed, the experience of living and working in a tropical environment with high temperatures and an energy sapping humidity is new.

While two teams last week began the task of immunising Choiseul Islanders in scattered coastal villages against yaws, a team of surgeons on Gizo Island have begun a mobile surgical programme which will later take them to New Georgia, Santa Isabel and Malaita.

This week the surgeons were based at the Gizo Hospital. Their first patient was a German tourist, aged 23, suffering from a twisted bowel. The New Zealanders arrived hours after she was admitted to hospital and operated almost immedi-

ately. She is recovering satisfactorily. On Malaita, a third team has begun a survey of filiarisis, travelling by canoe and on foot to villages. While medical work is the central feature of Operation Solmed, the New Zealanders have also established many new friendships. The teams have quickly been dubbed Niu Zelan Army by the children who follow every move from corners of village houses and tents. Warrent Officer Brendan Wood, of Timaru, soon gained recognition on Choiseul after organising a concert party of local children to welcome the afternoon R.N.Z.A.F. flight bringing supplies to Taro. While aircrew unloaded supplies in 30 degree temperatures, they were seranaded by rousing hymns and a ukelele.