Samoa
Apia
Dr. Albala worked with emergency physicians and medical trainees at Tupua Tamasese Meaole (TTM) Hospital in a supervisory role, focusing on teaching emergency ultrasonography. Dr. Albala performed a needs assessment for the emergency department (ED). Due to significant difficulties in performing CT imaging for emergency patients, the local physicians were very interested in an alternative imaging modality.
Dr. Albala found that after a month training the emergency providers in various techniques of ultrasound, they endorsed improved diagnostic capability, medical decision-making, and felt greater autonomy and empowerment to consult specialists. This was most pronounced in intra-abdominal, gynecologic, traumatic, and cardiac emergencies.
Since the emergency physicians did not have access to an ultrasound, Dr. Albala secured an AUD $10,000 grant co-funded by Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) and St. Vincent's Pacific Health Fund. He applied those funds towards a Philip Lumify Ultrasound system for the TTM Hospital Emergency Department.
Federated States of Micronesia
Chuuk State
Our focus in Chuuk State is to empower local staff, develop stronger systems, and improve access to care. Dr. Albala has worked closely with Chuuk State Hospital leadership, the local government, and clinical teams to improve care-delivery to patients. In addition to his direct clinical work and teaching in the emergency department and the wards, Dr. Albala focused on system and infrastructure strengthening. His formal analysis based on the World Health Organization Harmonized Health Facility Assessment provided hospital leadership extensive guidance in departmental and system-wide budget and stock planning.
Dr. Bal worked in partnership with the Moran Eye Center and Chuuk State Hospital to provide eye care, surgical services, and develop a comprehensive ophthalmic technician training program for the nursing and public health teams in Chuuk. Her work continues to expand and, most recently, reached patients in remote outer islands in Chuuk lagoon, bringing care directly to the communities in which patients live.
Our partnership with Chuuk is long-term and in 2024 we were awarded a $183,000 Department of Interior Technical Assistance Program Grant to develop medical simulation capacity and training.
Nepal
Kathmandu & Hetauda
Our focus in Nepal was on health screening and delivery of cataract surgical care. Dr. Albala worked closely with local community leaders and physicians to provide health screenings and assessments for community members. He also provided teaching and skills transfer to the local providers.
Dr. Bal worked closely with the Tilganga Eye Institute to refine her cataract surgical skills through learning manual small incision cataract surgery, a surgical technique not often used in high-income settings but which is crucial for complex, advanced cataracts in resource-limited settings. She used those skills to provide surgical care in several high volume outreaches to rural communities throughout the country.
At Rose Initiatives we believe that through investing in people, we invest in a happier, healthier future. Our goal is simple: empower. We seek to empower healthcare teams in remote and resource-limited communities at all levels, from public health workers to nurses and physicians. We leverage our rich background in public health and education to strengthen capacity through lectures, medical simulation, and side-by-side clinical training. Our commitment is rooted in the belief that everyone, regardless of geographic location, deserves access to quality care.