NEW ZEALAND AND AUSTRALIAN MEDICAL TEAM IN HONIARA

New Zealand Nurse Scott Cameron works with NRH doctor Kenton Sade to treat patients. Photo credit: Australian High Commission Honiara.

A 12-person New Zealand and Australian medical assistance team are helping treat patients at the National Referral Hospital following recent flooding in the country.

A statement from the Australian High Commission Office today said over the past six days, the team has worked with Ministry of Health and Medical Services personnel to treat more than 1-hundred and 50 patients, many of whom are children suffering from water-borne and respiratory illnesses.

As well as treating patients, the team has implemented a range of measures to support the hospital, including sourcing new equipment and supplies for the emergency department and increasing mosquito controls.

The statement adds, the team has also introduced innovative asthma spacers made from empty water bottles to help patients get asthma medication safely and effectively.

A second team of 12 medical personnel will arrive in the country at the end of April to replace the current team and will be in the country until mid May.

New Zealand and Australia have previously deployed medical personnel to Solomon Islands in times of crisis.

Both countries provided medical teams in response to the dengue outbreak last year, helping to treat patients, manage workloads and provide relief for exhausted local staff.