Bringing Healthcare to Palau’s Most Remote Islands

Toktang the Surgeonfish, Peace Winds Palau’s Mascot, and Palau residents

In 2023, the Peace Winds Palau team screened more than 460 residents living in the remote islands of Palau. Most of these people have limited access to routine healthcare, and many are living with undiagnosed non-communicable diseases including heart disease, diabetes, and hypertension. Doctors and nurses are traveling to these islands aboard the Kensing health ship to provide free health checks to those who may not otherwise have access. Palauans can find out basic metrics like their height, weight, and blood pressure, and they also receive more in-depth tests such as blood and urine screenings or even EKGs and ultrasounds.

While more than half of Palau’s 18,000 citizens live on the main island, Koror, many of the country’s remaining 339 islands are home to people living in remote areas without easy access to healthcare. In April, Peace Winds staff traveled to the faraway Southwest Islands, a journey that takes about one day by boat, to provide health screenings and education. The farthest of these islands is approximately 370 miles from Koror, and according to the local staff, most Palauans have never been there. 

The Kensing health ship

Although most of the remote islands have small health clinics, they are not well staffed by doctors and nurses, and supplies are limited. There is a government-operated ship that travels between Koror and the Southwest Islands to ferry outside food and supplies. However, it operates only four times per year, subject to weather conditions. Islanders who get sick are treated with basic medicines–many of which, Peace Winds discovered, were expired–or traditional medicines such as native plants. Anyone who is seriously ill must wait to travel to the national hospital in Koror via the government ship or request a special boat. 

Peace Winds’ team of doctors from Japan, Taiwan, and Palau conducted health screenings for all eligible adults on the Southwest Islands they visited. One patient in his 20s told us that this was his first check-up since he was in elementary school. 

In addition to conducting health screenings, the Peace Winds Palau team reached more than 1,260 residents through health education activities in 2023. This includes health presentations in the Southwest Islands and Peace Winds’ night market booths in the main islands. At these booths, visitors can learn health-related facts, ask questions, find new recipes, or get a free blood pressure check. 

Blood pressure check at Peace Winds Palau booth

Peace Winds is looking forward to making healthcare accessible for more Palauans in 2024. The first screenings of the year are being held in January, and our staff plan to conduct additional educational activities to help residents take charge of their health. If you would like to make a donation to support Peace Winds’ work in Palau, please visit our GlobalGiving project. To stay updated on our work in Palau and find new recipes, follow Peace Winds Palau on Facebook. We appreciate your continued support. 

View on Tobi Island in the Southwest

Southwest Island residents and Toktang the Surgeonfish

Peace Winds Palau night market booth

Peace Winds Palau team in Koror