Locally-Made Toothpaste Trial

Another project I have been working for the last 2 weeks is a trial of a toothpaste that could be made in Vanuatu out of coconut oil and finely crushed coral with a few other ingredients. 

The project is an initiative of PCV Health with assistance from a dedicated group of Australian supporters passionate about the poor oral health situation in Vanuatu. Dr Barry Stewart has been leading the charge, coming armed with the first batch to be tried out on 3 classes in 3 age-groups of children at Central School, just 5 minutes walk from PCV Health. 

Here are some samples - mint plus 2 other secret flavours suited to children's taste, along with a booklet for each child to take home. 

The booklets have a calendar inside and a supply of stickers to encourage the children to brush their teeth every day at home, plus they are all brushing once a day at school as a class, with a similar sticker chart for the classroom. The trial will continue for 3 months, to try to get the children in the habit of brushing twice daily, and making sure that the toothpaste is performing well. Extra toothbrushes have been sent home to try to encourage the whole family to brush. Even in a fairly well-to-do school community it is amazing how many families do not have this healthy habit.

In order to check if this is having a good impact, the level of plaque on the children's teeth is being checked at the beginning of the trial, and will be checked again at the end of 3 months to see if there is any improvement. This is where I come in, reprising my role from last year as a survey recorder for Dr Barry.

A disclosing fluid is given to each child to make any plaque on their teeth show up bright pink. This helps the examiners and lets the children see where they are not brushing well. Teaching them how to brush well is a big part of it, as we have seen already that just brushing more often does not always result in less plaque.

Sarafina, Morinda and Bob  from PCV Health have all been conducting a short questionnaire with the children and they will do follow-up visits to the school over the 3 months of the trial.

Dental staff from the Vila Central Hospital have assisted with examinations and recording the data. Dr Jenny (recording) and hygienist Lilyanne (examining) are shown here, also Dr Gaddi and Primilla were helping.

Here is the whole team with class 1B who are very enthusiastic participants.

In late July, we will check the children's teeth again, and if there is a good improvement, it is hoped that production of Vanuatu toothpaste will begin. Of course there will be lots of logistics and issues to be sorted out, but at least this first stage is well underway.

ANZAC Day 25 April 2018

This morning we got up at 4.15am to leave for the Cenotaph for the dawn service for ANZAC Day

There was a good turn out to mark 103 years since the landing of troops on Gallipoli by predominately New Zealand and Australian troops. Other nations were also present on that morning, and also suffered the loss of many young men.

The New Zealand High Commissioner Jonathan Schwass,

President Obed Mosses Tallis laying a wreath

After the service the New Zealand and Australian high Commissions hosted a breakfast for New Zealanders, Australians and guests at the Holiday Inn Resort. A very good breakfast it was too. Tank yu tumas to both commissions. (though there was no Marmite only Vegemite).

After breakfast there was a game started. It involved tossing three coins to and betting on the result. President Obed had a go (I didn't see him making a bet). In this photo President Obed Mosses, Jonathan Schwass (New Zealand High Commissioner) and Jenny Da Rin (Australian High Commissioner) watch on.

The idea is to lay the three coins on a flat board (about 10cm by 5 cms) and toss the coins in the air and let them fall in the circle bordered by the white rope.

Sunday ride out to Pango Point

Last Sunday after Church we went exploring out Pango Point.  Annette had a more lessons riding Ethel.  We explored many roads, and looked at a couple of nice resorts. We will go back to the resorts for a coffee and swim sometime in the future.

Satellite view of Pango Point. Our flat is close to Saralana Park.

Annette in control

A new marine development out on the point. Sections for sale around this man made harbour. In the satellite view of Pango point, the marina can be seen on the northern side of Pango Point

There was this house made with containers.  the main unit looked like three containers together to form the main structure of the house.  it was on private property so we didn't stop to have a good look around. Containers are used a lot in Vanuatu for storage, small shops and cafes, and houses.

Then we saw this tree, a tree so we thought.  It was two trees on closer inspection. The central branch in the photo appears to be a tree with its roots wrapped around the main tree.

Ethel proved her worth

Ethel (our AIE quad bike) proved her worth last week.  The PCV truck was not available so I (Martyn)  offered take Ethel and purchase stationery for the office.  The top box was great.  I carried two boxes of A4 copy paper,  4 East Light Ring Binder files, and assorted manila folders.  And there was still room for more items

Opening Ceremony - VHW Course

Yesterday we had our big opening ceremony to welcome the students and thank all those who have made it possible. The preparations started in the morning once the marquee was erected, with flower arranging and then decoration with pot plants and balloons. All hands on deck for PCV staff.

Bowie and Morinda on balloon duty (several balloons were harmed in this process!)

 Jenita, Terekea, Sarafina and Yvonne also on balloon duty.

Beautiful work by Yvonne.

The caterers setting up. Not just an afternoon tea but a full hot dinner!

Each student was welcomed and given a bead necklace,

also all the dignitaries.

Melton was on camera duty.

Elder Jara was MC.

Elder Jonathan, standing in for Ps Allen who was on his way to NZ, gave a very entertaining speech.

Nicola got landed in it, being asked to give a speech about the course with about 5 minutes notice - she did it in Bislama and did very well!

The students performed a song written by Judy which they had only learned and practised that morning, called Mi Wokman Blong God.

The whole team plus dignitaries from Ministry of Health and DFAT.

Then after a small delay because the food hadn't arrived, we had our celebration meal.

It was a lovely spread.

A great kick off to the course 😊

Village Health Worker Course - Gearing Up

For the last few weeks I've been helping prepare Korvan (the PCV's health school) to run the Village Health Worker training course for the Ministry of Health. 

The course trains volunteers from all over the country in basic medical knowledge and primary health care, so they can go back to their communities and provide some health education and minor treatment where there are no other medical facilities. It has the potential to make a big difference in the lives of many people. It covers not only first aid, but sanitation, healthy food, personal hygiene and much more. I wish everyone in Vanuatu could do this course! If Korvan do a good job of running this course, it is highly likely there will be many more to follow. Korvan has run the course in past years, but then Save the Children ran it for several years. The course content has recently been updated and is very comprehensive.

The classroom and offices are on the ground floor with accommodation upstairs.

Lolona (Lulu) from Madagascar has been helping me prepare activity cards for the students to use in class. We met through International Christian Church. She wants to improve her English and I want to improve my French, so much of our conversation is repeated in one language or the other.

4 of the hard workers - me, Judy (the very experienced nurse trainer for the course), Nicola Young and Lulu.

There are 35 students, so 35 folders to be prepared with dividers and initial information.

Nicola and Judy in the office at the back of the classroom, with timetables and orientation info on the wall, also the printer bought specially for the course.

Some equipment we already have, some will need to be borrowed from the School of Nursing.

Lots of the equipment has been stored for quite a while so it needed a good sort out.

The room where it was all stored was long overdue for a clean-up! Here are a couple of before and after shots (hope you can spot the difference!)

Elder Jara is the school administrator and has been doing the lion's share of organising the logistics - airfares, transport, accommodation requirements, catering etc. Here he and Nicola are reading the instructions on a borer bomb to put in the equipment store room.

Upstairs, Rose (Pastor Colin's wife) and Elder Cyrilline are getting the extra mattresses ready - Korvan usually sleeps 20 but we have 30 women and 5 men coming, so several ladies will have to sleep in the prayer room. The 5 men will be next door in Sutherland House.

Here is one of the regular bedrooms with an extra mattress.

Now we are all set for the course to start on Monday with Orientation Day and an Opening Ceremony. Classes start on Tuesday. One thing we could really use is some large plastic boxes for storing equipment and paperwork so if anyone feels moved to help please send your donation to Phil King at Global Missions, PCANZ. Email phil@presbyterian.org.nz