News
Students Tackle Indigenous Health Problems In N.T. |
| Spokesperson: | Australian National University |
| Date: | Wednesday, 11 July 2007 |
| Category: | National Health News |
| Two students from the ANU Medical School will help tackle ear health issues among Indigenous children in the Northern Territory next week as part of a volunteer program led by Canberra doctors. Third-year medical students Christopher Gilbert and Kate Kalloniatis will be part of a medical team working at Tennant Creek Hospital on widespread chronic ear infections, which can lead to perforated eardrums, hearing loss and deafness among children. Christopher, who spent six weeks at Tennant Creek earlier this year as part of his Rural Clinical School placement, said that ear health issues are a major problem for Indigenous children in central Australia, where relatively poor living conditions can contribute to persistent ear infections and further complications. “We’ll be doing what we can to improve conditions for these kids,” he said. “In the cases of those who’ve got perforated ear drums, we’ll do our best to repair those membranes and improve their quality of hearing.” Mr Peter Pinnington, who lectures in Indigenous Health at the Rural Clinical School, said that Aboriginal health issues are integrated into all four years of the graduate program for medical students, who are given structured opportunities to work with Indigenous health services in the ACT and NSW. He also said that many students undertake clinical placements in the Northern Territory. “The experience that the students gain in working with remote Indigenous communities is invaluable for them, as it allows them to put into practice all that they’ve learned about providing health services to Aboriginal people,” Mr Pinnington said. “The feedback we get from our students is incredibly positive. Many of them want to return to work in rural communities when they graduate, and contribute back into the communities, which is what Indigenous health at the ANU is all about. Forming partnerships with such teams gives Chris and Kate the opportunity to address such chronic ill health in remote Australia. The shortage of doctors in remote areas is another issue.” The students’ travel is being funded by the Rural Clinical School and the Canberra Medical Society, which will also assist with funding for a surgeon and an anaesthetist. More information: Chris Gilbert 0405 104 702 (Chris and Kate depart for the NT on Friday morning) ANU Media Office: Simon Couper 02 6125 4171, 0416 249 241 |
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