AN initiative by the Health Ministry’s Family Health Services Unit to reach areas that are more or less cut off from the rest of the world after the devastation of Severe Tropical Cyclone Winston has been hailed a huge success.

Supported by UNICEF and UNFPA, eight teams made up of doctors and nurses as well as dietitians and midwives were dispatched to areas adversely affected by the cyclone to provide medical services to those who needed it.

Three teams that covered the Western Division met in Lautoka yesterdat to share their experiences and findings and according to the national adviser family health, Dr Torika Tamani, the feedback has been very positive.

“The main aim of the outreach mission was to reach all the very hard to reach places and judging from the reports presented today by the teams in the West, I am happy to say that we did meet the objective,” she said.

“Our teams went through some rough terrains, waded across rivers and walked far distances because of damaged roads and bridges just to provide these medical services. In all the places they visited, people were so welcoming and were so happy to see them because they were unable to make it down to their nearest health centres or hospitals for various reasons brought about by TC Winston.

“I am very glad and thankful to our teams who took the risk to travel to these areas and serve the people.”

Three teams were dispatched to the West covering areas in Ra and Ba to Sigatoka while two teams covered the North and three other teams each covered Levuka, Koro and Vanuabalavu.

UNFPA reproductive health specialist Dr Yann Lacay commended the efforts of the teams, adding that their support will continue.