From lush green mountains to crystal-clear waters and coral reefs, most people imagine Fiji as a luxury holiday destination, probably reclined with a drink of choice and enjoying a Pacific sunset. The realities of working in healthcare here are a little at odds with this idyllic imagery.
The famous “Fiji-time” may refer to a more laid-back approach to life, but this is a country dedicated to improving, working hard, and of course, enjoying life.
I’ve been told that “Fiji-time” actually means that no-one should get left behind, no matter how long it takes. This has certainly been my experience in Fiji, where the local teams work tirelessly to improve outcomes for women and babies.
For six months, as a final year FRANZCOG advanced trainee, I joined Fiji National University (FNU) and the Colonial War Memorial Hospital (CWMH) obstetrics and gynaecology team in Suva. This volunteer role is supported by the Australian Volunteers Program, an Australian Government-funded initiative that works to support locally-led change and capacity strengthening. Volunteering through this program allowed me to work with other charities in Suva, including Fiji Cancer Society, as well as having a wide support network of other volunteers. The connections and camaraderie of so many like-minded people have been tonics to the cynicism of “big city” life.
CWMH serves as the major hospital for most people in Fiji. Having worked in modern tertiary centres in Melbourne, I was aware I would face a different operating context for the delivery of O&G care in Suva. High patient volumes and limited access to resources that are seen as commonplace in Australia can mean spaces are used creatively and staff work with limited supplies. What I wasn’t prepared for was the incredibly strong emphasis on training and development that was apparent from junior medical students through to senior medical staff. Everyone is keen to learn, share knowledge, and use the gift of education to improve services.
To strengthen capacity in Suva long-term, my volunteer role focused on clinical education, tutorials, workshops, and supporting undergraduates and O&G trainees. It was certainly a challenge to find the right schedule, space, and equipment for all of these sessions, but necessity is the mother of all invention, and we would often take classes in open areas adjacent to wards and share spaces with midwifery education. I was privileged to be a part of work across the Pacific, with regular online sessions to greater Fiji and Tonga. Working with the local leadership team, gynaecology guideline development also became a priority towards the end of the rotation, with a view to sustainable clinical growth.
The team here tackle the HIV epidemic, rheumatic heart disease (RHD), and other communicable diseases with energy and realism. New RHD databases are being developed to facilitate better care across the country, and the O&G doctors here are proficient in echocardiograms following intensive training.
There is limited public access to what many in Australia would consider basic gynaecology care, such as Mirena IUDs, laparoscopy, and hysteroscopy. This being said, to be a part of such excellent open surgery was a joy, and I was thoroughly impressed with the dedication to sound surgical skills development. With passionate local doctors leading the charge, CWMH will continue to develop laparoscopy and hysteroscopy services in gynaecology. Having now had experience of working in Suva and gaining an understanding of what is truly helpful on the ground, I will continue to support this service development in whatever capacity I can, as I move into AGES training.
This career-affirming role is a gift for anyone passionate about leading change through education, patience, and knowledge sharing. The challenges of working in the Pacific are not to be overlooked, but what I have gained in terms of global health knowledge, clinical education appreciation, and life-long friendships, is invaluable. If you relish a challenge, want to try something completely different, and want to make meaningful change, please consider applying for any similar role in Fiji. You won’t regret it.
RANZCOG has partnered with the Australian Volunteers Program and Pacific partner organisations to offer three six-month long volunteer O&G assignments in Papua New Guinea, Fiji, and Solomon Islands. The assignments focus on strengthening local O&G workforce capacity and are available to Fellows and Advanced Trainees. Travelling scholarships are also available to support participation.
To learn more or to apply, visit RANZCOG Global Health | Fellows, Members and Trainees(opens in new tab) or view the available opportunities on the RANZCOG Jobs Board: Papua New Guinea(opens in new tab), Fiji(opens in new tab) and Solomon Islands(opens in new tab).
