re
contact.
They also have need of interisland boat transport for referral]
when necessary.
They usually work out of one of the existing clinics on
the islands although these clinics need not be elaborate or extensively
equipped.
The health assistants on the Marshall Islands have been 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 education.
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
assistant
assistants
are
course.
presently
qualified to be upgraded to medical assistants.
3.
Medical Assistants
A mid level practitioner functions between the level of a health
assistant or community health worker and that of a medical officer or
medical doctor.
He works under different titles based on the 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 medical training
program. Medex are mid level pratitioners who have had two years of
training beyond high school.
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 hospital.
were
trained
specifically to work
in
the
outer
islands
under
i.e.
They
the
supervision of Medical Officers by radio but this plan has not been
realized because of multiple factors.
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 Pacific in Suva, Fiji,
where
they
are
called Medical
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 name of medical
assistant will be used here as this is a commonly used designation in
many countries of the world.