“Marimed” launched

for island aid

How best to care for “rural” medical needs of a far-flung island nation? The problem is not unique to the Republic of the Marshall Islands, but if a project now in the fund-raising stage is successful, an old idea may be given new life with the result being better health care.

That is the hope of the founders of the Honolulu based Marimed Foundation, which this month kicks off a US$2.2 million fund-raising drive in the United States.

Marimed’s founders, attorney David Higgins and Dr. Ilona “Lonnie” Higgins, are confi

dent they can (literally) get their project off the drawing boards by later this year.

The money will go to buil ding a 150-foot sailing ship, to be home-ported in Honolulu, which will act as a floating health clinic in the Marshalls.

The ship’s plans are completed.

Indeed, a sister ship (to be used as a training vessel) is now under construction in New Zea land, where Marimed’s ship also will be built.

The husband-wife team says their approach is not novel. ‘‘We found that in our own humble way we had stumbled

Notes from the North

on a traditional concept,” said David Higgins. That is to use a sailing vessel, which is cheaper

Floyd K.

Takeuchi on Micronesia

to operate, to travel to remote islands on a regular schedule to bring needed health professio nals.

Higgins, a veteran sailor, said the ship will be a self-contained community. Volunteer expatri ate physicians will conduct cli nics; Marshallese public health officers will carry out training programs and educational acti vities; health ministry officials will also be aboard; and the crew will carry out the mainten ance of the medical equipment aboard ship.

The project, which has the enthusiastic backing of the gov ernment of President Amata Kabua, will be directed by Marshallese. They will set priorities, both Higgins say, and Marimed will supply the ship and professionals. The Mar shalls government will have to also supply the estimated U 55350,000 annual budget to run the ship.

A typical trip will include three doctors and a dentist, a laboratory and X-ray techni cian, a nurse, two public health educators, other medical per sonnel as needed, a representa tive of the Marshalls govern ment, local nurses and a crew of seven.

Dr. Higgins, who has experi ence in outer island health care in other parts of Micronesia, said the idea is not to be a floating hospital. The trips are to establish a network of on island health care practitioners who can count on regular assistance and professional advice from Marimed, she said.

The project is far-along.

Marimed has been working with women’s groups in the Marshalls to establish outer is land needs. It has a close relationship with government officials involved in health care.

About US$4OO,OOO has already been raised, giving the Higgins hope that the remain der will not be too difficult to find. Some large corporations have taken an interest in the project, David Higgins said, particularly those that do busi ness in the Pacific.

Higgins hopes Marimed’s activities in the Marshalls can serve as a model for other Micronesian governments. The advantage of sail power, he said, is that they can carry out their duties for about $lOO a

day (for operations) as opposed to the $2BOO a day costs of running the Marshalls’ diesel powered inter-island ships.

Both Higgins stress that Marimed is a private sector venture. The U.S. government is aware of the foundation’s intentions, and is supportive of them. But funds will come from non-government sources. That will keep the project indepen dent, they said.

The foundation’s address is: Marimed Foundation, 1210 Auahi St, Suite 222, Honolulu, Hawaii, 96814. Telephone:

808-537-5586.

Takeuchi.

Floyd K.

Health care for Micronesians such as this young mother and child is the goal of the new seaborne service, Marimed.