Community Contributed
Aloha. As the Vice President of the Molokai Community Health Center Board of Directors, I want to share a video that I recently produced to help spread the word about this special organization and its forward thinking, holistic approach to the health and wellness of our entire island community. Check out molokaimatt at YouTube.com or his website IslandLifeVideos.com for more information.
Matt Yamashita
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Molokai Health Systems News Release
Several flu shot clinics are being set up around the island during the month of September, for residents to receive the 2010-11 seasonal and H1N1 vaccine.
This project is a collaborative effort between Dr. Daniel McGuire, Molokai Community Health Center, Molokai Drugs Inc., Molokai Family Health Center, Molokai General Hospital and Na Pu`uwai, to provide a community service to enhance the health of Molokai residents. The shots are administered by Certified Healthcare Professionals, while supplies last.
There is no co-pay for the vaccine, and a health plan membership card is required if you are insured. You must be 18 years or older to receive a flu shot at these locations. Bring a driver’s license or other photo ID. If you are running a fever or are allergic to eggs you are not able to receive the flu vaccination.
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Take a walk down Manako Lane in Kaunakakai on any given weekday and you will notice an unassuming green house nestled in the corner, buzzing with traffic. Several days a week, mental health patients gather at this spot – known as the clubhouse – which they describe as a place of solace and understanding.
“We get to do activities, talk with each other, keep our minds busy,” said Paul Fischer, who visits the clubhouse regularly.
The Hana Ka Lima Clubhouse is a mental health drop-in center, serving about 70 Molokai residents suffering from mental illnesses. Joe Childs, facility director and case manager, helps reintegrate members into the community through counseling, work programs and therapeutic activities, such as gardening and cooking.
Representative Mazie Hirono News Release
Congresswoman Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) today announced the awarding of $9,044,880 in U.S. Department of Health and Human Services grant funding to support Native Hawaiian health centers on Kauai, Maui, Molokai, Lanai, and the Island of Hawaii.
These grants keep vital health care providers operational by enabling them to pay for rent, salaries, various overhead, and medications for qualified patients.
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Community Contributed
By Kat Revuelto
The CPR event two weekends ago was a huge success – 24 Molokai residents learned a lot on the basic CPR techniques with hands-on training on their own inflatable “Manikin – Mini Anne” with Hawaii Life Flight’s Outreach Educational Coordinator, Lori Cannon. Lori definitely had them engaged and taught them simple key words and rhythms to remember such as, going to the beat of “Staying Alive.” The attendees wanted to know when we were coming back to do another educational workshop!
“I wanted to learn the basic knowledge of CPR and teach my family and staff members. We all need to be prepared for that moment of time rather than being nervous and panicking,” said attendee John Kelly, counselor for Hoalahuo.
Molokai General Hospital staff that helped with the workshop included Dino Fontes, Lori Cannon, Puna Alcon, Jeanette Bince, and Jeanette Kawakami.
“Lori made it fun and made it easy to learn and remember the CPR basics with the “shaka” sign technique,” said attendee Cora Schnackenberg.
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Hawaii Life Flight has saved countless lives around the islands, but in life-threatening situations, they want local communities to be the first line of defense.
In that spirit, the emergency air medical service will provide a free CPR and First Aid training on Saturday, July 31, in the Molokai General Hospital (MGH) dining room.
Participants will practice CPR on inflatable mannequins that they will then be able to take home. Since this is not a certified class, practice will be essential to properly learn the skills.
It’s helpful “to learn the life saving skills should [someone] get into an emergency cardiac episode, so at least [you] have the knowledge,” said Kat Revuelto, Hawaii Life Flight’s business development manager.
Long after the war wounds heal and scars fade, veterans in rural areas see a gap separating them from the proper medical care they need.
“It can be difficult when veterans need care and have to go off island because they can’t get it here,” said Larry Helm, commander of Molokai Veterans Caring for Veterans.
In an effort to provide all veterans with adequate health care, the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) is becoming a major adopter of mobile health technology – also known as telemedicine. Last week, board members of the VA Pacific Islands Healthcare System (VAPIHCS) visited Molokai to discuss these innovations and how they could eventually service Friendly Isle vets.
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It was nothing short of an eventful day for the island’s new and only pediatrician, Dr. Kawika Liu. Last Thursday marked his first full day at Molokai Community Health Center (MCHC), complete with stuffy noses, upset tummies and check ups.
Liu, a native Hawaiian himself, comes to Molokai with a can-do attitude and an esteemed career in pediatrics and internal medicine. He first ventured to the Friendly Isle in the 1990s and came back in 2006, where he practiced for a short time at the MCHC before moving back to Oahu. Liu said what brought him back was the island’s close-knit community.
“It’s a great place to be,” he said. “I hope to make a difference and improve the health of the people.”
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It’s not often you see Molokai women donning plastic aprons and latex gloves, armed with a tray of surgical-like instruments. They were preparing to learn anatomy and physiology in a hands-on lab as part of an intensive year-and-a-half course that will produce 16 certified physical, speech and occupational therapy aides by its end.
Hosted by Wai Ola O Hina, a health-care services organization located in the Moore Center in Kaunakakai, the Therapeutic Activity Aide Certification (TAAC) program comes to Molokai as the first of its kind. Envisioned by Jodie Diener, Wai Ola O Hina project manager, the course seeks to educate participants in multiple therapies, while advancing long-term care and developing Molokai’s workforce.
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“A community is only as good as it takes care of its oldest members,” William Akutagawa said to a large crowd last Friday at Home Pumehana. Community members gathered to celebrate the blessing of the new adult day care center, which finally came to fruition after 10 years of planning.
Akutagawa, executive director at Na Pu`uwai, said the facility – known as the Senior Enrichment Center – is a step in the right direction and will provide Molokai families with the help they need in caring for their kupuna.
The center will provide day services, from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., where kupuna can be dropped off and engage in stimulating activities designed to maintain their cognitive and sensory skills. Judy Mikami, Na Pu`uwai’s long-term care director, said there will be zumba, singing, puzzles, crafts, hula and ukulele classes, reclining chairs, field trips and even a Wii game console.
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