Author: des_soares

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Module 2, 2015 Knee

The Knee module was held at the National Referral Hospital, Honiara, Solomon Islands, from 8 June to 17 June 2015. Click here to read the report on the June 2015 Knee module.
From L to R:  Kabiri Itaka (Kiribati), James Tewa’ani (Solomon Islands), Areta Samuelu (Samoa), Mark Rokobuli (Fiji)
Stephen Kodovaru (Solomon Islands) and Shaun Mauiliu (Samoa) with their sawbones ACL reconstruction.
PIOA students with Dr Patrick Houasia, President PIOA and  Director Orthopaedics (Solomon Islands)
and Prof. Nik Friederich, (Basle, Switzerland) with the VirtaMed ArthoS knee arthroscopy simulator
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VANUATU CYCLONE PAM RELIEF

Dr. Basil Leodoro from Vanuatu has been the Medevac coordinator at Vila Central Hospital. Basil attended his first PIOA module in February. He requested additional assistance in the form of personnel and ex-fix equipment.
PIOA has been able to assist the staff at the Vila Central Hospital by sending Dr Stephen Kodovaru and operating theatre RN Mary Maneporaa from Solomon Islands. They stayed in Vila for 10 days to help with dealing with trauma following the cylcone.
Please click here to read a report on the PIOA Vanuatu relief trip by Stephen Kodovaru.
In addition Dr. Mark Rokobuli, one of our trainees from Fiji has been deployed with the Royal Fiji Military to assist in Vila.
PIOA was also able to coordinate and deliver ex-fix equipment donated by Stryker Orthopaedics, and Dot Dash (Smith & Nephew Orthopaedics) and some battery drills donated by Greenslopes Hospital.
 
Dr. Basil Leodoro reviewing a child who suffered burns while trying to help his family get rid of cyclone debris.
Dr. Trevor Culwick receiving ex-fix gear carried by PIOA (donated by Dot Dash, Stryker and Greenslopes Hospital)

Dr. Basil Leodoro co-ordinating Medevac flights for injured patients on the outer islands

         

Cyclone Pam affected people in Port Vila queuing for food rations.

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Module 1 February 2015

INTRODUCTORY MODULE – FEBRUARY 2015
The Introductory module was held at the National Referral Hospital, Honiara, Solomon Islands, from 2 February to 11 February 2015. Click here to read  the Module 1 2015 report on the February 2015 Introductory module.
Back row (L to R ) James Tewa’ani, ALex Munamua, Basil Leodoro, Kabiri Itaka, Areta Samuelu, George Kabwere, Mark Rokobuli, Stephen Kodovaru
Front row (L to R) Hermann Oberli, Christian Gubler, Patrick Houasia, Gerold, Lusser, Matthew Hope, Des Soares

PIOA trainers and trainees were pleased to meet with the Deputy Prime Minister of the Solomons Islands Government. The Deputy Prime Minister thanked PIOA for the training programme and was impressed with the training being offered to doctors from many of the Pacific Island countries based at the National Referral Hospital in Honiara.

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AOA ASM Melbourne, October 2014

PIOA trainees Stephen Kodovaru (Solomon Islands) and  Shaun Mauiliu (Samoa) presented scientific papers at the Australian Orthopaedic Association Annual Scientific Meeting in Melbourne on 14 October 2014. Dr Des Soares, Director of Training for PIOA  also presented a report on behalf of Dr. Patrick Houasia on the first two years of the PIOA training program.
You can view Stephen Kodovaru’s presentation REVIEW OF ELBOW FRACTURES here.
You can view Shaun Mauiliu’s presentation   ORTHOPAEDICS IN SAMOA  here.
 
You can view the 2 year report on the PIOA training AOA ASM here.

From L to R (Stephen Kodovaru, Des Soares and Shaun Mauiliu) at the AOA ASM in Melbourne,  14 October 2014

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Module 3, October 2014, Tumour

The sixth module – “Orthopaedic Tumours” was held at the National Referral Hospital, Honiara, Solomon Islands, from 29 September to 8 October 2014.
Click here to read  the Module 6 report
Trainees From L to R : George Kabwere (Solomon Is), Kabiri Tun Itaka(Kiribati), Stephen Kodovaru(Solomon Is), Alex Munamua(Solomon Is) and Shaun Mauiliu (Samoa)
Staff and students at Module 6.  From L to R: Kabiri Itaka, David Ardern (NZ), Shaun Mauiliu, Pauli Hitchen (Aust), Eka Wiratnaya (Indonesia), George Kabwere, Vaughan Poutawera (NZ), Alex Munamua, Stephen Kodovaru, Des Soares (Aust), Patrick Houasia (Solomon Is)
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PIOA Module 2, June 2014, Paediatric orthoapedics

The fifth module – “Paediatric Orthopaedics” was held at the National Referral Hospital, Honiara, Solomon Islands, from 9 June to 18 June 2014.
Click here to read  the  Module 2 report 2014
  Back row: L to R      Stephen Kodovaru, Alex Munamua, Kabiri Itaka, George Kabwere
Front row: L to R     Peter Cundy, Maxime Cote, Kate Stannage, Nicole Williams, Des Soares
 
Dr. Peter Cundy (Adelaide) with trainees Kabiri Itaka (Kiribati) and Alex Munamua (Solomon Islands)
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Module 4, February 2014, Trauma

The fourth module – “Orthopaedic trauma” was held at the National Referral Hospital, Honiara, Solomon Islands from 3 February to 12 February 2014.

From L to R: Stephen Kodovaru, George Kabwere, Shaun Mauiliu, Kabiri Itaka, Alex Munamua

Alex Munamua with Jochen Ruckstuhl (Swiss)

Stephen Kodovaru with Jochen Ruckstuhl

Click here to read the Trauma Module report 2014

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Introducing Kabiri Itaka from Kiribati

PIOA welcomes our newest trainee, Dr. Kabiri Itaka from Kiribati.
 
Dr Itaka is one of only two surgeons in his nation serving a population of approximately 100,000 people. To date any orthopaedic trauma in Kiribati is held over for formal management by a visiting team from Brisbane that comes only once a year. Dr. Itaka will now be able to take a much more active role in managing his injured patients.
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PIOA Module 3, October 2013 – Hip

The third module – “Hip” was held at the National Referral Hospital, Honiara, Solomon Islands from 13 October to 22 October 2013. Click here to read the Module 3 report .

 

PIOA trainees from L to R: Shaun Mauiliu, Stephen Kodovaru, George Kabwere, Alex Munamua.

Practicing applying an external fixator to a fractured pelvis (synthetic bones).
Plaster technician Philip is  in the background.
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AOA ASM Darwin, October 2013

PIOA trainees Stephen Kodovaru and Alex Munamua presented scientific papers at the Australian Orthopaedic Association Annual Scientific Meeting in Darwin on 9 October 2013. Dr Patrick Houasia also presented a report on the first two modules and the positive effect the PIOA training program was having not just on the orthopaedic department but also on the rest of the hospital.
Stephen Kodavaru, Alex Munamua and John North at the AOA ASM in Darwin.