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Graduates boost malaria fight

9 July 2008

VCP graduate Michael Nunan is one of six pharmacists working in the Solomon Islands.

Graduate Erin Mitchell runs pharmacy education programs to train pharmacy officers in the Solomons.

The Solomon Islands has a population of 500,000 and 94,000 cases of malaria each year. The country has only six pharmacists, two of whom are graduates from Monash's Victorian College of Pharmacy.

Michael Nunan (BPharm 2006) reports to the director of pharmacy in the Solomon Islands. His role is to develop and strengthen pharmacy services for the country's public health system.

"I learn something new every day working here -- it's an incredibly different environment to work in for all sorts of reasons," Mr Nunan said. "I'm learning about malaria treatment protocols one minute and supply issues the next."

"The locals here are such nice, gentle people and they're emerging from a pretty bleak period in their history. It's a good time to be here and as long as we go about it in the right way, they really value what we do."

Erin Mitchell (BPharm 2006) runs the country's pharmacy education programs.

Her role includes training pharmacy officers -- a two-year intensive course is the country's standard pharmacy qualification -- and redeveloping the curriculum for the pharmacist trainee year. She also runs a continuing education course for current staff.

"Working here has given me the opportunity to do something out of the ordinary, but still in my field -- which feels like a good career move at this age!" Ms Mitchell said.

"We are combining work and travel, and living somewhere we wouldn't otherwise have gone. It is a really exciting job, as we are given so much responsibility and there are challenges every day."

Both Erin and Michael found their positions with the Ministry of Health in the Solomon Islands through Australian Volunteers International.

For more information on pharmacy courses and research visit the Victorian College of Pharmacy website.