Hospital ship lends a helping hand(2)

Chinese doctors and nurses during a training session for local medical professionals.

A lack of specialists

With the permission and cooperation of the Maldivian authorities, the Peace Ark sent out 20 medical teams, totaling 115 staff, to 10 residency islands to provide medical services and training.

In addition, the Peace Ark organized two training sessions for 40 nurses in Male and more than 140 Maldivian medical staff visited the hospital ship.

The training sessions for the nurses, which included presentations on patient safety and the prevention of infection, were held at a local military hospital, one of four hospitals in Male.

The sessions were designed to cater to the needs of local medical staff, according to Li Hongyan, the director of the Peace Ark's nursing department.

After a class on the prevention of infection, the attendees' questions ranged from the disposal of medical waste to the use of catheters.

"The nurses were all very interested in our classes because the subjects are the most discussed topics in the field. To guarantee the quality of our classes, we picked the most experienced medical professionals in China to deliver the lectures," said Li, who has more than 30 years work experience and also took part in the 2011 Peace Ark mission.

"I really cherished the training and the chance to work with the Chinese medical staff," said Fazeela Moosa, a senior nurse at a military hospital in Male. "My colleagues and I learned so much."

The lack of a medical school means all training is undertaken overseas, increasing the cost and difficulty of becoming a medical professional, according to Moosa. To remedy the shortage of medical staff, the government attracts foreign doctors, mostly from India, by offering high salaries for the region, more than $2,000 a month on average.

"The foreign doctors come on contract and leave when their contract expires. If the government cut the budget they wouldn't stay, because they wouldn't make enough money. We need more homegrown doctors," said Moosa, who explained that she's planning to improve her professional skills, and, having seen the expertise on show aboard the Peace Ark, would like further her training in China.

"I really appreciated the sessions the Peace Ark provided. I hope China will one day offer scholarships for people who want to study there," she said.

Hussain Nazif, 29, studied for five years at a medical school in Dalian in Northeast China's Liaoning province and has worked as a doctor in Male for two years. During the Peace Ark's visit, he volunteered to work alongside the Chinese doctors.

"I am looking for more training so I can specialize as an ear, nose and throat doctor," he said.

The Maldives needs medical specialists, plus psychologists, according to Thifla Rasheed, a care worker at a nursing home in Male. "Most of the children we care for are homeless or have been abused. There is a lot of work to do to keep them healthy, both physically and mentally," she said. "This work couldn't be done without foreign aid."

A 10-year-old boy from the home was taken to the Peace Ark for surgery to remove two extra fingers on each hand.