Seven biomedical engineering students from New Zealand’s University of Canterbury (UC) are spending 10 weeks in Tonga’s hospitals and clinics to repair life-saving medical equipment and to engineer biomedical solutions, as part of a work experience pilot program.

Leading the initiative is Dr Debbie Munro, a UC Senior Lecturer in Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering, who told Matangi Tonga the program was part of their graduation requirements.

She said while students were gaining hands-on experience, it was also important “that we start thinking more globally in terms of how we do design” to improve health services in Tonga.

“For instance, a lot of consumables, disposable things like face masks and stuff need to be reused here.”

And as they are single use items, there’s no cleaning protocol for them, she added.

“So, they are some of the things that we are working on.”

Since their arrival on 28 November, the group have been working at Vaiola Hospital, which also included sorting out administrative work.

“I thought that we would come in and start repairing equipment. But it turns out that what’s really needed is high level organisation and management,” said Dr Munro.

The group have been developing an asset registry use system.

“The Ministry of Health put together essential health care services that they wanted at different levels of health care. And so now we’re looking at what kind of equipment they have in those environments, do they have everything they need? This year is definitely a pilot year to try and figure out what to do and we hope to grow it long term.”

Dr Munro also wants to focus on involving local Tongans as “there’s lots of bright young Tongans who would love to get into biomedical technician training jobs”.

She plans to develop a training program that can upskill people in Tonga and across the Pacific.

A student, Frederick Wright said working in Tonga had been amazing.

“This is a really big opportunity I’d say, not only for us to learn more about what’s going on in Tonga but for us to gain some experience as engineers. It’s been really eye opening, just the differences, between us (New Zealand health services) and here.”

Another student, Amy Fellowes, agreed working in Tonga had been an eye opener in terms of what’s there in the health clinics.

“But the coolest thing is talking to all the nurses and they’re all like, 'we do the best with what we have' - they’re very passionate and they work super hard.”

While most of the focus will be on Tongatapu, the team plan to go to Ha’apai from 26-31 December to help setup medical equipment in the new hospital.

The work experience program is the result of a partnership between the University of Canterbury, Fisher & Paykel Healthcare, and Take My Hands, with the goal of improving healthcare throughout the Pacific region.