The Solomon Islands are one of the top 12 countries in the world for diabetes prevalence, presenting a huge threat to the health of all Solomon Islanders. When properly managed, people with diabetes can live long and healthy lives, however…
1. How did you find out about volunteering with Motivation Australia? Motivation Australia came onto my radar after my previous program director sent me an advertisement regarding a job opportunity for which I applied. I am very grateful for this…
In February Motivation Australia’s Katrina McGrath spent some time in the Solomon Islands where she worked with the Prosthetic and Orthotic graduates recently returned from Mobility India and Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) personnel. Katrina spent time with Lower Limb Prosthetist…
In December last year, Motivation Australia’s Consultant Podiatrist Nalini Natesan, delivered two days of training on diabetic foot screening and wound care to community nurses. She returned to Tonga in March, with volunteer podiatrist Emma Winter and Motivation Australia’s Prosthetist…
The MA team were recently in Tonga to continue work on the Rehabilitation and Mobility project. So many exciting things have happened in Tonga over the last month! Tonga now has its first ever lower limb prosthestist and lower limb…
In December, 2018 Motivation Australia consultant podiatrist Nalini Natesan together with Selini Soakai, head of Non-Communicable Disease nurses, delivered two days of training on diabetic foot screening and wound care to community nurses in Tonga. As part of the Tonga…
Diabetes and its complications are a large and ever-growing burden within the Pacific Islands. Polynesia and Micronesia have the world’s highest age-standardised diabetes prevalence rate of over 25%, with Melanesia not far behind at 15%¹. With this high prevalence of…
Need for services Tonga’s civil society organisations, people with disabilities and disabling health conditions have expressed their need for improved rehabilitation services and appropriate mobility devices (including prosthetic and orthotic devices). The Ministry of Health recognise this demand and have…
Motivation Australia’s recent work in Kiribati has been across two projects; the Pacific Mobility Device Service (MDS) Project, and the Kiribati Amputation Prevention (KAP) Project. In February, Katrina McGrath was able to visit partners in Kiribati for: The final KAP…
The situation: diabetic foot ulcers were leading to high rates of amputation Pacific Islands account for eight of the top ten in the world for diabetes prevalence. In 2014 Polynesia and Micronesia had the world’s highest age-standardised diabetes prevalence rate…
In September this year Motivation Australia (MA) visited Kiribati to work with the Tungaru Rehabilitation Service (TRS) and Tungaru Central Hospital’s Diabetic Foot Clinic (DFC). MA worked with TRS to introduce and implement a new data system within TRS. This…
April saw the launch of Kiribati’s new Diabetic Foot Clinic (DFC) at Tungaru Central Hospital (TCH). Katrina McGrath from Motivation Australia and volunteer Podiatrist Nalini Natesan visited the DFC team in Kiribati to provide on site training and mentoring. DFC…
Katrina McGrath from Motivation Australia (MA) joined volunteers from the International Society of Prosthetics and Orthotics (ISPO) Australian National Member Society Outreach Committee (ISPO Outreach) in presenting a 3 day Instructional Course for High Risk Foot Management in the Pacific. The course provided…
Earlier this year Marjolein Wiegman, from the University of Twente in the Netherlands joined Motivation Australia as an intern to undertake research into the ‘Costs and benefits of the Diabetic Foot Clinic in Samoa’. The research demonstrated that care provided by…
Lauren and Ray from Motivation Australia conducted a one week rapid assessment of the current status of diabetic foot care at Tungaru Central Hospital (TCH) in Kiribati. MA have been working with the Tungaru Rehabilitation Service (TRS) at the same…