We believe that getting quality healthcare should extend beyond borders. That’s why every year, our specialists give their time and expertise to support less-privileged communities through their involvement with ANZGITA (the Australia & New Zealand Gastroenterology International Training Association).
In 2024, two of our gastroenterologists and Medical Advisory Committee Chairs, Dr Mark Norrie and Dr Cliona Maguire, travelled to Honiara in the Solomon Islands to volunteer with ANZGITA. Working alongside a team of experienced endoscopy nursing specialists, they delivered practical training and clinical support to local medical staff, helping to build local capabilities in gastroenterological care.
Their time in Honiara gave them a firsthand understanding of the challenges facing healthcare professionals in resource-limited environments – where air-conditioning, pathology services and modern infrastructure are not guaranteed, and diseases uncommon in Australia are encountered daily. Despite these obstacles, the commitment of local clinicians is unwavering, and the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to their training was both humbling and rewarding.