Health Screening Ship to Remote Islands in Palau

In 2023, the Peace Winds Palau team screened more than 460 residents living in the remote islands of Palau. Most of these people have limited access to routine healthcare, and many are living with undiagnosed non-communicable diseases including heart disease, diabetes, and hypertension. Doctors and nurses are traveling to these islands aboard the Kensing health ship to provide free health checks to those who may not otherwise have access. Palauans can find out basic metrics like their height, weight, and blood pressure, and they also receive more in-depth tests such as blood and urine screenings or even EKGs and ultrasounds.

While more than half of Palau’s 18,000 citizens live on the main island, Koror, many of the country’s remaining 339 islands are home to people living in remote areas without easy access to healthcare. In April, Peace Winds staff traveled to the faraway Southwest Islands, a journey that takes about one day by boat, to provide health screenings and education. The farthest of these islands is approximately 370 miles from Koror, and according to the local staff, most Palauans have never been there. 

Although most of the remote islands have small health clinics, they are not well staffed by doctors and nurses, and supplies are limited. There is a government-operated ship that travels between Koror and the Southwest Islands to ferry outside food and supplies. However, it operates only four times per year, subject to weather conditions. Islanders who get sick are treated with basic medicines–many of which, Peace Winds discovered, were expired–or traditional medicines such as native plants. Anyone who is seriously ill must wait to travel to the national hospital in Koror via the government ship or request a special boat. 

Peace Winds’ team of doctors from Japan, Taiwan, and Palau conducted health screenings for all eligible adults on the Southwest Islands they visited. One patient in his 20s told us that this was his first check-up since he was in elementary school. 

In addition to conducting health screenings, the Peace Winds Palau team reached more than 1,260 residents through health education activities in 2023. This includes health presentations in the Southwest Islands and Peace Winds’ night market booths in the main islands. At these booths, visitors can learn health-related facts, ask questions, find new recipes, or get a free blood pressure check. 

Peace Winds is looking forward to making healthcare accessible for more Palauans in 2024. The first screenings of the year are being held in January, and our staff plan to conduct additional educational activities to help residents take charge of their health. To stay updated on our work in Palau and find new recipes, follow Peace Winds Palau on Facebook. We appreciate your continued support. 

Links:

• Follow Peace Winds Palau on Facebook

Over the last several months, Peace Winds teams in Palau have been hard at work providing health screenings and education to people with limited access to routine healthcare. Our doctors and nurses have held a number of health screenings aboard the Kensing health ship for residents of Palau’s remote islands, many of whom are at risk of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like heart disease and high blood pressure. 

Peace Winds’ free health screenings have also been available on land at local community centers. Whether on board the Kensing or at the community centers, Palauans can find out basic metrics like their height, weight, and blood pressure, and they receive more in-depth tests such as blood and urine screenings or even EKGs and ultrasounds. Although many patients are at-risk for NCDs, they are always eager to speak with Peace Winds’ doctors and nurses to learn how they can take better control of their health. 

Peace Winds Palau has also been active in educating the community about healthy habits. Our teams have hosted training sessions for healthcare workers and nurses alongside Palau’s Ministry of Health and Human Services, sharing the common goal and responsibility of keeping community members healthy. The Kensing has also hosted educational programs for children aboard the ship, and last month, Peace Winds participated in the Ministry of Education’s “Palau Kids Athletes Day” for elementary students.

As always, Peace Winds is grateful for the support of our donors and followers which makes our work possible. Follow Peace Winds Palau on Facebook to see regular updates and healthy recipe ideas, and follow Peace Winds everywhere to learn more about our work with vulnerable populations around the world. We thank you for your continued support.