Clinical Needs

Physicians your information follows but to see a detailed letter about clinic written by a doctor click here. Also please always email Steve at steve@drugsbite.com so he can coordinate the information and update the web page. Here is an email list of physicians that have been at the school:

Paul D. Wentland (Internal Med) pwentland@blazenetme.net

Paul Merkel, (Bone Doc) merkels@earthlink.net

The listings here will be updated regularly to reflect current and urgent needs. Many of these items seem basic to us here in the U.S. but on Vanua Levu you cannot purchase even a Tylenol tablet at any store in Savusavu.

If you have any questions not answered here please contact Stephen Arrington (530) 872-4884.

Note: All of these groups always need more physicians, dentists & nurses. Our clinic can also do outer island trips. For all of our scheduled trips please click here

Clinic Report: Our clinic was opened officially in June of 1999 by a medical/dental team from Loma Linda University. We were given permission to function as a medical clinic in Fiji by the Fiji Ministry of Health.

99% of our patients have legitimate, and sometimes serious medical problems. Almost everyone needs antibiotics, pain medications or anti-fungals. The number of patients we see each month has increased dramatically since the facility opened.

All medical personal should be aware that the follow diseases exist in Fiji and know how to prevent and treat them:

Urgent Supply Needs at the Vatuvonu Medical Clinic: Do not send out-of-date medications or supplies!

Current clinic needs (updated 9/06)

Aleve
Amoxicillin 250 and 500 mg
Antibiotic ear drops

Antibiotics, all types, all doses, for adults and kids

Arthritis meds
Calcium
Cephalexin 250 mg and 500 mg**
Clortrimazole cream 1% or Spectazole cream **
Cough and cold meds, adult and pediatric
Cough drops

Fluconazole 400 mg po

Head and Shoulders Intensive Treatment or Selsun shampoo with Selenium, for treating "dhani"**
Head Lice preparations **
Ibuprofen: adult, children, and infant
Iron pills
Lamisil, griseofulvin, ketoconazole,

Lindane Shampoo
Liquid Bactrim or Septra
Liquid Imodium
Loprox Cream
Metformin 500 mg
Migraine meds
Naprosyn
Nitrostat 0.4 mg
Nizoral pills and cream
Pedia Care Infant Drops **
Pediatric antibiotics
Rocephin 1 gm injectable
Selenium sulfide lotion 2.5%
Silvadene cream**

Tylenol, adult, children, infant
Sore throat lozenges
Ventolin/Albuterol Inhalers
Vitamins, adult and children's

Xylocaine 1% local anes**

Zithromax

Supplies

#11 blades **
4X4s, 1" and 3" Coban tape, Telfa, Adaptic, bandaids (small and large)
4-0 Prolene suture on P3 or PS2 needle
Ace bandages
Antibacterial soap
Autoclave sterilization indicator tape
Bandaging materials of all kinds
Bandaids**

Betadine solution and scrub**
Bottled Saline
Computer labels

Chux**
Eye Wash
Exam gloves, unsterile, all sizes

impregnated gauze for burns**

IV solutions: Lactated Ringers in 500 and 1000 cc**

Knee braces
Lancets

Lice combs

Liquid medication dispensing bottles

Non-sterile 4 x 4 gauze in large quantities

One Touch Life Scan glucometer strips

Oral rehydration packets

Reading glasses, used prescription glasses, used hearing aids

roll gauze, non-sterile, 3 and 4 inch

Sanitary wipes such as Clorox**

Silver Nitrate sticks
Tiny ziplock bags with a write-on area 2X3"
Snack size ziplock bags

Urine Pregnancy tests

Dental Needs (not updated recently)
Toothbrushes
Toothpaste
Latex gloves
Contra angle for slow speed
Floss - lots!
Patient bibs
Cold sterile solution
Vapo-sterile solution for Harvey's
Autoclave bags and pouches in set-up size, 4X12" and 3.5X5.25"
Instrument brush
Burr brush
Paper tray covers
periosteal elevator

This is a list of medications we use regularly. Please see our urgent supply needs list if you would like to donate to our clinic. Many of these items seem basic to us here in the U.S. but on Vanua Levu you cannot purchase even a Tylenol tablet at any store in SavuSavu. Please do not send out-of-date medications or supplies!

Where to send supplies to (please remember not to send out-dated medications or controlled substances):

The Vatuvonu Medical Clinic is located in a remote, densely tropical area of the island of Vanua Levu at the head of a large bay in a cove, surrounded by high mountains. The physical environment of the area has an effect on the health problems of the population to a large extent, i.e., remoteness, heat, humidity, water sources, etc.

The remoteness of the area has an impact on the pathology you will see at the clinic. The local villagers do not trust the physicians at the two small hospitals on the island and therefore do not want to go there for care. Therefore, by the time you see a patient at the clinic a disease process may be in an advanced state or complicated.

The heat and humidity of the region contribute to the development and persistence of the many dermatological problems encountered.

The amount of rainfall on the island makes water very abundant. Unfortunately, during the rainy season, that abundance may lead to an abundance of mosquitoes carrying the Dengue Fever virus. In addition, many villages depend upon surface water or shallow wells for their drinking water, with the potential for water-borne disease outbreaks.

The following is an outline of some of the common medical problems you can expect to encounter while on the island.