News
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WSP presented and attended the COR-NTD Meeting for the Pacific Islands in Sydney
The inaugural Regional Coalition for Operational Research on Neglected Tropical Diseases (COR-NTD) Meeting for the Pacific Islands recently took place in Sydney, Australia.
During the meeting, WSP team members from Solomon Islands, Fiji and Melbourne presented our program experiences on scabies elimination efforts to date with a special focus on urban MDA implementation and its challenges. This was the first time WSP team members from Fiji and Solomon Islands came together in person. The meeting was a great opportunity to discuss key priorities moving forward for the Pacific Island NTD community.
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Integrated scabies and LF Mini MDA completed in Matuku Island and Totoya Island in Fiji
The Fiji WSP team has recently completed a mass drug administration (MDA) in Matuku Island and Totoya Island in integration with the Lymphatic Filariasis Unit from the Ministry of Health and Medical Services.
The teams worked hard to successfully visit all four villages in Totoya and all seven villages in Matuku despite experiencing unfavourable weather conditions. Well done to all the staff and volunteers involved in completing this MDA in such a timely and efficient manner. -
Post MDA integrated prevalence survey training completed in the Solomon Islands
Earlier this month, the Solomon Islands WSP team in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Medical services completed the post MDA prevalence survey training. The WSP Program Lead and Senior Program Officer travelled from the Melbourne office to attend the trainings in the Solomon Islands.
Nurses were trained on clinical skin examinations for scabies and infection, field communications, consent and survey logistics. Data collectors were trained on how to use a survey tool called Redcap in order to collect survey data on electronic tablets. The scabies prevalence survey is part of an integrated survey with trachoma and yaws. A big congratulations to all involved!
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WSP is taking part in the first National Integrated NTD Survey in the Solomon Islands
The World Scabies Program (WSP) is excited to be taking part in the first national integrated NTD survey in Solomon Islands. The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with WSP and its partners, has initiated a training program for nurses and public health officers to carry out a nationwide survey on three selected 'Neglected Tropical Diseases'. Scabies, Yaws, and Trachoma.
See the video below for more information
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MDA Coverage Survey Central and Western Division of Fiji
The Fiji WSP team are currently undertaking a Mass Drug Administration (MDA) Coverage Survey in the Central and Western Division. The survey involves a series of questions to gain insight into individual feedback on the impact of the MDA in their households and community.
The communities chosen to partake in the survey were randomly selected and include Nasinu, Serua Namosi, Naitasiri and Tailevu in Central and Ra, Ba, Nadi and Nadroga in the West. Our teams are enjoying visiting households and learning more about their experiences of the MDA. The MDA Coverage Survey will help to ensure future MDA implementation strategies are improved upon.
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World Scabies Program at the 2023 Fiji Showcase
The 2023 Fiji Showcase is the largest trade and entertainment event showcasing government and non-government organizations and local businesses in Fiji. This event strengthens partnerships between private and government sectors and showcases each area of expertise to the public. The World Scabies Program partnered with Communication Fiji Ltd (CFL) to hold a neglected tropical disease (NTD) stall at the event.
It was great timing for WSP as the program had just completed mass drug administration (MDA) nationwide. This platform provided an opportunity for attendees to learn about scabies MDA as well as receive medication. MDA coverage attained during Fiji Showcase 2023 was well over 500 people in the Central Division. -
Solomon Islands MDA has been completed throughout the whole country!
In the Solomon Islands, we have some very exciting news! The mass drug administration throughout the whole country is now finished! A big congratulations to all involved in this huge effort to treat the whole country with scabies community treatment!
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Farewell to all MDA staff in the Central Subdivision of Fiji
Farewell to all the mass drug administration nurses, volunteers, community health works (CHW's) and drivers for the whole of the Central Subdivision in Fiji. In the photo below, the teams in the Rewa Subdivision held a farewell celebration yesterday at Wainibokasi Hospital. Thank you for your dedication and hard work!
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Photographers join the Fiji MDA team in Suva for a day
Today in the field in Fiji, we have a photographer and videographer taking footage of the mass drug administration in Suva as well as interviewing nurses and those involved in implementing the program. The photographers started at the health center to capture the nurses preparing for the days work ahead and shadowed them throughout a whole day to capture important footage.
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Solomon Islands MDA reaches some of the remotest parts of the Solomon Islands
In the Solomon Islands, the mass drug administration (MDA) teams have been working hard to reach some of the remotest parts of the Solomon Islands in Reef Island, Vanikoro Island and Utupua Island to distribute scabies medication. Well done to all involved!