Health Screening Ship to Remote Islands in Palau

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.

Peace Winds teams working on the health ship in Palau have visited three of the country’s remote islands to provide regular check-ups to at-risk populations. In the most recent health screening this spring, Peace Winds doctors, nurses, and staff members worked to meet the needs of 144 Palauans who were excited to board the ship and get a check-up. 

The medical ship project is working to provide these health screenings to teens and adults living in Peleliu, Koror, and Kayangel four times per year. In addition to meeting with doctors and nurses about their health concerns, patients get checked for basic metrics like height and weight, blood pressure, and A1c, as well as receiving secondary screenings such as EKGs and ultrasounds. 

Ultimately, the goal of these screenings is to diagnose non-communicable diseases (NCDs)–like heart disease or hypertension–early on and mitigate the impacts. In the most recent round of health screenings, Peace Winds diagnosed 14 percent of patients with diabetes and identified another 44 percent as being at-risk. Additionally, 52 percent had high blood pressure. In addition to learning the results of tests like these, patients can speak to medical professionals about their health concerns and learn how to better manage their health. Project Manager Lentcer Basilius says that most Palauans who participate in the screenings are surprised to learn that they are at risk for NCDs and are eager to learn how to take better care of themselves. 

The Peace Winds Palau team is also working to educate community members at Palau’s night markets where small businesses host booths to promote their products. Peace Winds hosts a booth at these events to instruct about healthy recipes and lifestyle practices, and children have been eager to meet the Kensing’s mascot, Toktang the surgeonfish. 

Peace Winds looks forward to conducting more health screenings this year, and we thank you for your continued support! In the meantime, be sure to check out the Peace Winds Palau Facebook page for more photos, updates, and healthy recipes.

Links:

• Visit Peace Winds Palau on Facebook!