FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 18 August 2011

Emergency medical training at AFL Emergency medical services available at Airports Fiji Limited (AFL) received a boost yesterday (17 August) when one hundred people attended training at the Civil Aviation Authority of Fijis headquarters. Facilitated by Dr Peter Wirth, an emergency medical specialist based in Canberra, Australia, the hands on training focused on cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and the use of defibrillators in cases of cardiac arrest (heart attack). Because of the interest shown in attending the training, two sessions were conducted to cater for the numbers from Fire Services, Customs, Immigration, Security, the Duty Free shops, Air Pacific, everybody you could imagine, there is standing room only, said Dr Wirth, during a break at the workshop. This is really exciting. Three doctors and three nurses came from Lautoka Hospital, and Im teaching them to be the teachers. They are training local people from the different organisations represented at the two sessions, who will go back and instruct others in CPR and the use of the defibrillator. Dr Firth, with five other emergency physicians from Australia, is in Fiji to discuss specialist services across the Pacific with AusAID. This is our passion, explained Doctor Wirth. Were very keen to offer our services to Pacific nations, either working through the Fiji School of Medicine and/or working with Ministries, hospitals, local doctors and nurses, and potentially having Fijis doctors and nurses visiting our hospitals in Australia. Dr Wirths connection with Fiji goes back to l999 when he donated his time to work with local medical personnel. In 2001, this association became formalised through the AusAIDsponsored Fiji Health Sector Improvement Programme (FHSIP), where Dr Wirths involvement continued until 2006. During that time, with the assistance of Mr David Rak, Regional Operations Manager of Laerdal, a defibrillator supply company, Dr Wirth organised the donation of two defibrillators and training mannequins to AFL. Because I was coming to Fiji, I contacted AFL and asked if there was any interest in our resuming training. I received an enthusiastic reply from AFLs Mr Lawrence Liew, General Manager Airports. The existing equipment only needed new batteries and pads, and was used

in these training sessions. Another time, I would like to organise training on both sides of the country. These sessions took place at very short notice, but they should give the country, AFL, tourism, immigration, everyone involved greater confidence in dealing with medical emergencies, said Dr Wirth. This is another step in the right direction in ensuring that Nadi International Airport, and later on Nausori International airport, get in line with international practices of providing a safer environment, not only for our travelers, but also for the staff who man the airports. Ultimately, our goal is to have a medical clinic at the airports, beginning with Nadi, said Mr. Liew. The training sessions have taken place on the eve of the Pacific Medical Association annual conference in Nadi. END Photo captions (1) Dr Wirth (left) assists the trainees with CPR (2) AFLs Lawrence Liew makes a point during the workshop For further information please contact George Rubine on 9923853