contact.
They also have need of interisland boat transpo#t for referral
when necessary.
They usually work out of one of the exisfing clinics on
the islands although these clinics need not be elaborate
for extensively
equipped.
The health assistants on the Marshall Islands have
peen fortunate
to have an active continuing education program offered
by Mr. Arata
Nathan from Ebeye and Mr. Alex Keju from Majuro.
It is recommended that
these MEDEX continue in their work of continuing educatipn.
Qualified
health assistants after a period of work with good recommendations may
become
candidates
Approximately
10
for
of
training
the
in
younger
the
medical
health
assiBtant
assistants
fare
course.
presently
qualified to be upgraded to medical assistants.
3.
Medical Assistants
A mid level practitioner functions between the lev@] of a health
assistant or community health worker and that of a medifal officer or
medical doctor.
He works under different titles based onfthe name given
by the particular school under which he was trained.
Between 1975-1978 a few Medex were trained by the{University of
Hawaii as part of a Trust Territory Pacific Island-wide m@dical training
program. Medex are mid level pratitioners who have haq
training beyond high school.
two years of
Today there are 10-12
Medex who are
working in the Marshalls, most at the central facilities] at Majuro and
Ebeye as physician extenders,
supervisors of special
[programs
hypertension, and in the public health clinics at the hbspital.
were trained
specifically to work
in
the
outer
islagds
superviston of Medical Officers by radio but this plan
realized because of multiple factors.
under
i.e.
They
the
has not been
Those who are working seem to be
highly competent and motivated though somewhat discouraged because of
lack of support.
A training program of similar level is ongoing at
present in the
School of Medicine at the University of the South Pacificlin Suva, Fiji,
where
they
are called Medica]
Assistants.
A proposed
program of
training offered by the new campus of the University] of the South
Pacific
in
Honiara,
Solomon
Extension Practitioners.
Islands
has
chosen
the
name
of Health
For the sake of clarity the nime of medical
assistant will be used here as this is a commonly used
many countries of the world.
flesignation in