PJ Twomey Hospital was the site of celebration in August with three nurses and a pharmacist receiving Certificates of Proficiency, allowing them to be the first practitioners to use donated specialised equipment from Australia.
Ultraviolet B light is used for the treatment of severe psoriasis, a condition that affects about 5 percent of the population and can be debilitating. It causes patches of redness and scaling on the skin that can sometimes be difficult to treat. UVB light can also be used for the treatment of vitiligo, a condition where the skin loses patches of pigment.
The UVB device is an open-ended cabinet with ultraviolet lights around the edges – patients stand to receive the light therapy. Multiple treatments are required for success, often three to five times per week.
Getting the equipment ready for action was truly a combined effort of generosity. The equipment was donated by Dr Robert Paver, transport was provided by the Australian not-for-profit Pacific Dermatology, shipping provided by Mainfreight Australia, installation by Wayne Electronics and calibration by CWM Biomedical Engineer Easi T. Vuli.
Teaching and certification on use of the specialised equipment was delivered by Sr Glenda Savoulian, a nurse educator from The Skin Hospital in Sydney and supported by a Nurse Education Scholarship through Australian company Sun Pharmaceuticals.
Mr Stan Seeho, a compounding pharmacist from Sydney, also visited PJ Twomey Hospital pharmacy to bring ingredients and train a young pharmacist to use a donated compounding device. The Electronic Mortar and Pestle allows ingredients to be mixed quickly and efficiently to make a cream suitable for using on the skin.
More on what we've been working on
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2023 and beyond - more dermatology specialists for the Pacific
In 2022, four doctors undertook the second year of the Master of Medicine in Dermatology. The education program continues in 2023, with the support of local and remote specialist dermatology educators.
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Progress - more specialist skin doctors for the Pacific
Since opening the Pacific Dermatology Training Centre in 2019, a number of Pacific doctors have completed their Diploma in Dermatology and some are now undertaking the Masters of Medicine in Dermatology.
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Introducing our teaching programme coordinator
Dr Janice Yeon is a Dermatology Research Fellow at The Skin Hospital doing clinical research and assisting with clinical work - she also is the Programme Coordinator for Pacific Dermatology here in Australia. During the COVID19 pandemic, Dr Yeon helped adapt the Pacific Dermatology Training Centre teaching program to a largely online format.
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First skin clinic for Samoa
When Dr Va‘a-Fuimaono returned to Samoa, with her Postgraduate Diploma of Dermatology, she started the first skin clinic for Samoans at the main hospital in Apia, Samoa.
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