US volunteers in Marshalls look to expand

2:22 pm on 28 September 2015

A California-based volunteer medical group that started service in the Marshall Islands over 30 years ago is now expanding to many of the other United States-affiliated islands in the Pacific.

Canvasback l-r hospital nurse Joash Jilak, Canvasback nurses Jack Roberts and Deborah Yoder, anesthesiologist Dr. Brad Tym, and ENT plastic surgeon Dr. Tal Dagan

Canvasback ear-nose-throat (ENT) team working at Majuro hospital in 2014, from left: Majuro hospital nurse Joash Jilak, Canvasback nurses Jack Roberts and Deborah Yoder, anesthesiologist Dr. Brad Tym, and ENT plastic surgeon Dr. Tal Dagan. Photo: Giff Johnson

A California-based volunteer medical group that started service in the Marshall Islands over 30 years ago is now expanding to many of the other United States-affiliated islands in the Pacific.

Canvasback Missions is aiming to have five medical team visits to Ebeye and Majuro next year as it expands its services to Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia and possibly American Samoa.

An ear-nose-throat medical team visit for Majuro scheduled for this month was postponed due to faulty diagnostic equipment at Majuro hospital, and the visit has now been rescheduled for next February.

A gynecology team will also visit, after a team that visited earlier this year revealed they found cancers that are rarely seen at such an advanced stage on the United States mainland.

The co-founder of Canvasback, Jacque Spence, says it takes months to raise the funds to visit and to purchase the medical supplies, equipment and medicine, meaning advance planning is essential.

The Canvasback dental team with Ebeye students

Hundreds of Ebeye Island elementary school children received preventive services from a Canvasback dental team during its visit to the Marshall Islands earlier this month. Photo: Giff Johnson