Expanding Care Alongside Palau’s First Medical Imaging Expert
Despite the compassionate care that doctors, nurses, and other health workers provide in Palau, healthcare in the small island nation faces major challenges due in part to training and staffing shortages. The country’s only hospital, Belau National Hospital, received donations of medical imaging equipment, but until recently, there were no doctors trained in diagnostic imaging to properly use them. Without specialized care, patients are more likely to receive the wrong type of scan, the wrong diagnosis, or the wrong treatment.
Dr. Jason Kalei Arurang decided to change this. He is a key member of the Peace Winds’ medical team, which not only supports care on the main island, but also travels aboard the Kensing II health ship to bring healthcare to small and remote islands. Dr. Arurang is a native of one of these islands, Peleliu. Our staff spoke with him about his experience.
I hear you’re from Peleliu.
Dr. Arurang: Yes. I was born in Hawaii and lived in Guam for a while, but I grew up on Peleliu from second grade to eighth grade. I went to high school on Koror Island in the center of Palau, and then I took pre-med courses on the U.S. mainland and completed medical school in Cuba.
What does Peleliu mean to you?
Dr. Arurang: “Home.” It’s a beautiful place, and one where I can relax and feel at peace. It’s a small island, so everyone knows each other. To me, it’s the best. Even when I’m feeling stressed or going through a hard time, I can come back to Peleliu and feel at peace.
I understand that you attended radiology training at Sapporo Medical University in Japan last year. How was it?
Dr. Arurang: I learned so much. My supervisor, Dr. Yama, worked so hard that he forgot to eat, but he really taught me so much. Outside of work, he invited me to his home for meals a few times a week, and we talked about all sorts of things over Sapporo beer or sake.
Why did you choose to specialize in radiology and become an expert in medical imaging?
Dr. Arurang: The support we’ve received so far has given Palau plenty of equipment, including ultrasound, MRI, and CT machines, but there wasn’t a single expert who could interpret the images and make a diagnosis. That’s why the rate of misdiagnosis was so high. One of our goals is to prevent that.
Another issue is that patients are sometimes sent to large hospitals outside Palau to receive medical care, such as for heart disease or cancer. But in many cases they have to travel long distances, which is expensive, just for diagnostic imaging. So their illnesses have often already reached an advanced stage by the time they get any imaging.
Early detection in Palau can save lives and significantly reduce costs. That’s why it’s so important for my hospital to detect diseases early through diagnostic imaging.
You also work with Peace Winds, which travels around the islands by ship to provide medical checkups and treatment. What is that like?
Dr. Arurang: Peace Winds’ presence in Palau is truly a game changer. I think it’s groundbreaking. The leading causes of death in Palau are non-communicable diseases such as high blood pressure and diabetes. Many of these can be prevented with health checkups and education. We hope to work with Peace Winds to reduce these diseases.
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Peace Winds continues to work with Palau’s national and local governments to support residents’ basic healthcare, preventative screenings, and health education. We are also working to create sustainable health and supply systems for remote islanders. Your donations will help us meet these critical needs. Click here to support our work in Palau.