When New Zealand nurses Vanessa Nightingale and Aimee Were saw a call out on social media by Bella Vista Medical Group for volunteer nurses to help with the Samoa measles outbreak- they immediately sprang into action.
Twenty-four-year old Vanessa and 26-year-old Aimee work in emergency services at Waikato Hospital.
Despite being a busy time of the year in their department, they received full support from their supervisors to take leave for a week and volunteer at the front line in Samoa.
Preparing to self-fund their travel and accommodation expenses to and around Samoa, the two selfless nurses were surprised and grateful when they were informed their expenses would be taken care of by Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) and Samoa Airways.
“In terms of organising ourselves we were going to pay our own way “ said Ms Were “but then ADRA and Samoa Airways stepped in and took care of all of that - we didn’t know we were getting flights, accommodation and food available to us.
Ms Were continued, “We have been so incredibly well looked after here – everything was seamless, and we just concentrated on contributing our skills and experience in helping at the hospital.”
Ms Nightingale added “No one from back home had to worry about us because we were taken care of really well here.”
Through a joint effort between Bella Vista Medical Group, ADRA and Samoa Airways, 15 volunteer nurses from New Zealand and Australia have travelled over at different times in the last two weeks to serve at the front line in the emergency and paediatric wards. More are expected to arrive in the coming weeks through this partnership.
Both Aimee and Vanessa have never worked outside of the medical field in New Zealand and they recounted the gruelling shifts they worked alongside their Samoan counterparts at Motootua hospital.
“We were all working 12 hour shifts and we were fortunate to be picked up and housed at the ADRA head-quarters where they also fed us every day.” Said Ms Nightingale “we’re happy to give some reprieve to the local workers who have been working long shifts and staying overnight at the hospital throughout this whole ordeal- they deserve a break”
The nurses have served a total of 9 days and returned to New Zealand on Monday on board Samoa Airways but despite the purpose of their travel they are deeply moved by what they have seen in Samoa and will take back with them a message of hope to their fellow New Zealanders,
“I think the people of Samoa are so selfless and so giving even though they are going through a traumatic time.” Said Ms Were. “We felt like they would literally give you the shirt off their back if you asked them. This has been the biggest lesson we will take away from this – be kind and giving to people, no matter what you’re going through.”
Photo supplied Caption: New Zealand nurses Vanessa Nightingale and Aimee Were with Samoa Airways Passengers Services Officer, Rachel Poasa and ADRA Rep Unasa Pulou Tau