Tonga - Medical Equipment Maintenance Project in the Pacific, MEMPP
In 2002, Jack Beesley, a member of the Research and Development group with 30 years experience in laboratory equipment, spent a week training in the Vaiola Hospital, Nuku'alofa, Kingdom of Tonga, near the middle of the South Pacific.
As part of an on going Australian government AusAID and Medical Equipment Maintenance Project in the Pacific (MEMPP), 9 biomedical engineering technicians from Tonga, Cook Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Vanuatu and Fiji assembled in Tonga for the annual training.
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Biomedical engineering workshop, Vaiola |
Some of the group at the opening ceremony |
That year's focus was on laboratory equipment management. FBM staff have extensive experience in this field because of their large group of Laboratory specialists. Theory training topics covered included Biological safety, standards and cabinets, microscopy, electrical machines and centrifugation, balances, spectrophotometry and laboratory analysers.
The trainers assisted with any practical help possible, as equipment and time permitted. Two derelict microscopes were successfully merged into one and the remaining instrument was awaiting an electronic spare, easily fitted by the local technicians. The laboratory's main analysers were both faulty, one from a broken opto-coupler and the other with fluid problems, probably from infrequent maintenance. Cost of consumables was too high for all the recommended maintenances.
Because of the uncertainty of any electronic support, the training
was based on overhead projection slides and a hastily prepared 180
page training manual specifically written for the sessions. The
manual also acted as an on-going support text book for the technicians
who generally have very poor access to technical aid in their home
areas.
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| Jack showing markings on
microscope objectives. (Photo: Bruce Morrison MEMP) |
Spare parts were a serious problem. Generally, the technicians were keen and bright but were seriously hampered in their work by professional credibility and lack of formal training. Spares were very difficult to buy and even the opto-coupler was not available locally within the few days we worked there.
MEMP was working to establish an assistance network that would
help them to assist each other.
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After a long day the lads have a cultural
exchange. |
Felete and Galuafi repairing a microscope
(Photo: Bruce Morrison MEMP) |