Utilizing a Medical Ship in the COVID-19 Response in Fiji

Abstract

Background/Introduction:

Fiji consists of 110 populated islands over an area of 2,600,000 square kilometers and is prone to disasters such as tropical cyclones.¹ To increase national capacity to respond to disasters and outbreak, the Fijian government, under the commissioning of Ministry of Transport and with technical guidance from the Ministry of Health, designed a medical ship called the MV Veivueti. During Fiji’s COVID-19 surge, MV Veivueti was utilized to provide operative health services during the surge in COVID-19 patients at other health facilities.²

Objectives:

To describe FEMAT’s COVID-19 response utilizing the medical ship, MV Veivueti, in Fiji’s Pacific island setting.

Method/Description:

MV Veivueti has been used on multiple disaster responses, however the COVID-19 surge in mid-2021 was the first time the vessel was used during an outbreak to allow for the continuation of surgeries when other health facilities were overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients. The medical ship is staffed with a comprehensive team from Fiji’s EMT - FEMAT - including surgeons, pediatricians, obstetricians, a dentist, nurses, and other medical staff.

Results/Outcomes:

From May 5 through July 6, 2021, a 12-member medical team staffed the medical ship 24-hours a day, providing primarily operative management of cases that were referred from health facilities. COVID-19 screening and IPC measures were in place and a clear patient flow was designed for patient transferred to health care facilities.

Conclusion:

The use of the MV Veivueti helped ensure continuity of critical health services during the peak of the Delta VOC outbreak in the Fiji Islands.