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ABOUT US

The Fiji Village Project (FVP) is a not-for-profit international humanitarian project, initiated by medical students, based on models from the World Health Organisation (WHO), International Federation of Medical Students Associations and Fiji School of Medicine Public Health Curriculum. The annual project is executed by medical, dental, nursing and public health students from Australia, Fiji and New Zealand. The project aims to promote health in the South Pacific region and provides the opportunity of a cultural exchange between our Pacific neighbouring countries whilst working towards a common goal.

Each year, a remote Fijian village is selected that is not connected to water mains and does not have a sustainable, clean, drinking water source. 

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OUR AIMS

Our aims include conducting needs assessments and action-planning with Fijian communities and subsequently assisting them in carrying out their action plans by:

  1. Training the communities in any necessary skills required

  2. Assisting with fundraising for projects identified as highest priority from action planning meetings

  3. Providing required expertise advice/consult for any complex problems

  4. Providing education on any requested health concerns, and

  5. Conducting health screening and monitoring, consistent with Fijian Ministry of Health requirements.

OUR MISSION

The mission of the project is:

  1. To improve the health of village communities in Fiji by utilising the WHO Healthy Islands Scheme.

  2. Expose students to clinical skills and health care in Fijian villages and hospitals

  3. To improve student networking and build community development skills in the South Pacific Region

WHAT HAPPENS EACH PROJECT

Water Tanks 

Volunteer students from Australia and New Zealand fundraise money for the provision of water catchment (rain water tanks) to a Fijian Village that is not connected to the mains and does not have a sustainable, clean, drinking water source. The money funds hire of qualified local Fijian carpenters/ builders to install the water tanks in the village. This ensures long term health of the village by providing access to fresh, safe drinking water.

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Health Awareness ​

Medical, nursing, dental and public health students from Australia, New Zealand and Fijid perform basic education on healthy diet, exercise, reproductive health, children's health and common medical conditions (hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, diabetes).

Dental 

Final year dental students from Australia, New Zealand and Fiji under the supervision of qualified dentists are able to use their university trained skills to perform dental examinations, basic fillings and dental extractions. Medical, nursing and public health students assist in education around oral hygiene and simple fluoride treatments. This is a great opportunity for the remote village who do not have local access to dentists..

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Hospital Rotations 

Australian and New Zealand medical and nursing students have hospital rotations in Suva's Colonial War Memorial Hospital including Surgery, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, and Emergency.

This is an opportunity for students to work collaboratively in a hospital environment and experience the hospital system in Fiji.

Health Screening 

Medical, nursing, and public health students from Australia, New Zealand and Fiji undertake basic health screening (blood pressure, height, weight, BMI, blood glucose, heart rate, respiratory rate, eye tests) under supervision of qualified doctors. The goal of this week is to screen for undiagnosed conditions such as hypertension or diabetes in the remote village with limited access to basic health care.

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