Bougainville calling: Pharmacist needed for VSA mentoring role

Papua New Guinea wants your services. Volunteer Service Abroad Te Tūao Tāwāhi is looking for a pharmacist mentor to work with a sole-charge pharmacist in Buin, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea.

The volunteer would live in Buin for 12 months working with the Officer in Charge of the Buin Health Centre (BHC) pharmacy, Isaiah Norg, to assess gaps in his knowledge around storing and dispensing medicines, train and upskill him, develop more formalised guidelines for the pharmacy and create information pamphlets for patients.

Volunteer Service Abroad sends skilled New Zealanders into the Pacific region to collaborate with partner organisations across 11 countries, sharing expertise and upskilling Pacific people.

The VSA volunteers receive a living allowance for the term of the assignment, they can bring partners, will be housed, and have most expenses taken care of including flights, insurance and visas among other things.

Mr Norg graduated with a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree in 2012 from the University of Papua New Guinea, School of Medicine and Health Sciences in Port Moresby.

As per VSA’s job description, Mr Norg’s role is to ensure supply of medications and other consumables for the entire BHC and Buin Southern District. Additionally, he has responsibility to oversee the safe storage of vaccines and storage of all medical items used by the BHC.

Mr Norg also monitors the supply of medical items and attempts to procure replacement items when they run out.

Currently, the pharmacy needs some oversight and advice from an experienced volunteer who could mentor Mr Norg in all aspects of managing a hospital pharmacy facility, including simple financial record keeping.

Through the direct contributions of a VSA volunteer, the pharmacy at BHC would operate more efficiently and drugs and vaccines would be monitored and stored safely.

These factors would increase the capacity of the BHC as a whole and help staff to deliver better healthcare to patients of Southern Bougainville.

The BHC has 38 beds, receives referrals from surrounding health facilities and has a primary catchment population of approximately 36,000 people and a secondary catchment of 80,000.

Mr Norg has worked in Buin for nearly 12 years, initially with more staff.

“We used to have two dispensers working at the dispensary, but one died in 2019, while the other dispenser has chronic asthma with eye problems and hasn’t been able to come to work since early 2024,” he says.

“Now it’s only me and my assistant Vincent, but most times Vincent turns up to work late due to the long distance he travels from his village to work. He also has to leave earlier in order to make it on time when going back home. So, when my assistant is not available, I always work at the pharmacy and dispensary and also attend to other health facilities’ needs.”

The pharmacy dispenses to around 150 to 250 patients over a five-day working week, and Mr Norg is not trained in administering vaccines.

The volunteer’s role will be a vital mix of guidance and mentoring as well as hands-on pharmacy duties to ease the pressures on their team of two, Mr Norg says.

“I’m looking forward to receiving the technical support based on the volunteer’s profession and experience and together apply what is applicable to improve medical drugs and supplies services in Buin.”

They would also assist in conducting drug reviews, advise the clinical team on the rational use of medication, do presentations on medications and monitor adverse-drug reactions.

“The volunteer’s assistance/support at the pharmacy or dispensary will reduce my workload and prevent errors made during busy hours,” Mr Norg says.

Bougainville is an Autonomous Region within Papua New Guinea. It is the easternmost region of PNG and sits on the border with the Solomon Islands.

Buin is 184km from Bougainville’s capital, Buka, and just under 1000km from Port Moresby, PNG’s capital city. VSA has been working in Bougainville since 1998.

Buin’s town market has a reputation for being the best market in Bougainville, with the biggest market days held on Thursdays and Saturdays, Mr Norg says.

“People from the mountains and the coastal areas gather and sell their products, different proteins and fresh vegetables. Even the people from the neighbouring Solomon Islands come to Buin to sell mainly seafood and other cultural products and handcrafts.”

During the weekend, most people with vehicles visit the beautiful beach or rivers for a swim, to relax, and have a BBQ and do their laundry, Mr Norg says, “…people are friendly and respectful, if you respect them, otherwise they mind their own business”.

There are many things to love about working with himself and his assistant in the pharmacy and living in Buin, Mr Norg says.

“I am friendly and willing to learn, to discuss, and assist others. I also respect my colleagues and support gender equality and social inclusion in the workplace and when dealing with patients and clients.”