Mobile Clinic Update
The Solomon Islands and Vanuatu Missions

With donations coming in from around the world for the 10,000 Toes Campaign, our 10,000 Toes Ambassadors on the ground in the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu are very grateful for the $260,000 AUD they have received to establish mobile clinics in these island nations.

Solomon Islands

In 2019 a 4WD Toyota Landcruiser Troop Carrier was purchased for use in the Solomon Islands. This mobile clinic is based in Honiara, the capital of the Solomon Islands. It has been used to conduct non-communicable disease screening and health education programs throughout the island of Guadalcanal. The 4WD capabilities allow difficult-to-reach remote villages to be accessed. On this island, Type 2 Diabetes is causing significant loss of life and limbs.

The Solomon Islands is made up of 6 major islands and over 900 smaller islands. Access to sea transportation is essential if people on islands other than Guadalcanal are to be reached. With this in mind, plans are being put in place to purchase and outfit 2 banana boats. These are the main form of coastal transportation in the Solomon Islands. This will also include the purchase of health screening equipment, consumables, health education resources and necessary IT equipment. One of these banana boats will be based in Auki, to service the many remote parts of the island of Malaita. Another boat will service the beautiful but remote Western Province of the Solomon Islands. These boats will be invaluable in supporting the expansion of the 10,000 Toes Campaign Strategy. They will allow trained 10,000 Toes Ambassadors to visit remote villages to conduct health screenings and health education programs.

Vanuatu

Vanuatu is an archipelago of 80 islands. 63 are inhabited and it is also home to a number of active volcanoes. The Northern part of Vanuatu recently suffered significant devastation when Cyclone Harold passed through in April 2020. Like, the Solomon Islands, many lives and limbs are being lost to Type 2 Diabetes in Vanuatu. In 2020/21 Vanuatu will receive its mobile clinic which will provide significant support in the rollout of the 10,000 Toes Campaign strategy in this beautiful island nation.