Hemma, Hamish and Haiish

  
 

After work we went for a walk to the village and it is good to reminded that most of the Nivanuatu live in simple leaf huts, no electricity and no running water except in the stream at the edge of the village.



 Haiish was full of energy and never stopped asking questions and chattered away.

Later we went down to the sea and helped them develop their skills. Haiish just loved putting her head under water. Hamish was on the verge of swimming but lacked the courage. After a bit of encouragement he was able to go for a swim down the shore with Laura. He was so proud!

Haiish got cold and I love this series of photos. After warming she busied herself collected stones!

The second night there we played games as families do and taught each other tricks.

Next day was beautiful and we went down to the beach to enjoy the brightness before it became too hot.

Then it was time to leave.

Thank you Laura and Haiish for being such good photogenic subjects. Of course some of these photos were taken by Laura.

Malau clinic

We headed off to Big Bay in the north of Santo to visit Malau clinic. It is run by two Solomon Island nurses, Hilary from Koio in Malaita and Hemma from Kolombangara in the West. We arranged it 6 weeks ago but a week before we arrived Hilary was invited to a major malaria conference so in the end we met briefly at the boat  port and just visited Hemma.

After a 2 hour drive to Matantas we caught the speed boat and 30 minutes later were in Malau. H and H were posted here only 2 months ago and so are just settling in. However they have a good place with a nurse Aid Emson, a malaria microscopist and a couple of unpaid helpers who will be going on a village health workers training course.

These larger clinics are used for training purposes. It is good to have a microscopist though it is unfortunate that he has to use his microscope in the waiting room. Malaria is definitely down from previously mainly due to impregnated bed nets. However it is still around and causes much illness. They have a delivery area and a lying in room.

Annie did some tutorials on family planning and sexually transmitted diseases and I went through some basic clinical care. After work Hemma cooked us some lovely laplap especially cabbage in coconut cream.

Luganville in pictures

    The Pig's tusk is the gold standard in Vanuatu. Annie sending a food parcel to Lucy in the Banks Islands up north by air freight.

The main street is wide and lined with Chinese owned stores selling about the same thing. Small Korean made 3 cylinder taxis creep up and down seeking pasengers.

There are 3 banks, numerous ATMs and two good cafes.

Le Jardin de Saveur adds a bit of class with French food that is delicious and as good if not better than you will find in France. The coffee has to be drunk black with a choux pastry or pain au raisin (or both) and of course The Guardian Weekly.

The local branch of the University of the South Pacific  (USP) and the Alliance Francaise provide reasonable library facilities though books are hard to find elsewhere.
Quonset huts in various states of repair or dissolution are dotted around everywhere.

For relaxation there is the Unity Park or walks round behind the town and of course the sea. But do not sit under a coconut tree!!