FOHG Visit to Kupang – August 2025

In August 2025, a multi-disciplinary team from FOHG – including experts in palliative care, oncology, neurology, pharmacy, microbiology, dermatology, wound care, and medical education – visited Kupang to continue their collaboration with local healthcare partners.

The team worked closely with Prof Johannes Hospital, Kupang Health Polytechnic, Undana Medical School, and nursing education providers. The focus was on skills development, small-group teaching, clinical problem-solving, and fostering new partnerships.

Key outcomes included:

Clinical education: Targeted teaching in wound care, palliative care, stroke, and oncology nursing, medical journal club with the Undana students.
Systems improvement: Emphasis on clinical audits, documentation, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Development of root cause analysis and morbidity and mortality audits which drive improvement – a really important concept in health care
Pharmacy and oncology: Chemotherapy delivery support and planning for expanded cancer services, including the urgent need for radiation oncology in NTT.
Antimicrobial stewardship: Advocacy for cross-sector collaboration in line with One Health principles, lab support, and data-driven surveillance practices to provide a coordinated approach across all sectors.
Neurology: collaboration with the neurology group to strengthen dissemination and uptake of clinical guidelines and resourcing for stroke care
Community care: Highlighted the critical role of community palliative and wound care, and the need for sustainable funding models.
Future planning: On-going support for Prof Johannes Hospital as a specialist training hub with sustainable teaching practices and sharing of knowledge, and continued engagement with the Governor’s office and fostering of multi-lateral support for long term goals in health care for the population of NTT.

This impactful visit was made possible by our dedicated volunteers and the deep commitment of our Kupang partners. Special thanks to Dr Stef (Medical Director, Prof Johannes Hospital) and to Nus, our tireless liaison and interpreter.

Dr Gill Marshman BMBS FACD
Team Lead

Personal Reflections from a FOHG volunteer

What started as a casual conversation, led me to Kupang. Dr Smathi Chong had kindly invited me to Prof Johannes Hospital in Kupang, West Timor in Indonesia with the FOHG team to help with the training of the microbiology laboratory staff.

Traveling to Kupang with FOHG team was both a rewarding and eye-opening experience. From the moment I arrived, I was struck by the warmth and hospitality of the team, as well as their eagerness to learn and grow in their roles.

The training itself was centered on building confidence and consistency in laboratory practices. Trish Green, Senior Microbiology Scientist and current FOHG Secretary, and I guided the staff through essential laboratory techniques, emphasizing not only accuracy and precision, but also the importance of maintaining high safety standards. Many sessions were hands-on, which gave the staff opportunities to practice directly and ask questions relevant to their day-to-day challenges.

Beyond the technical skills, what stood out to me was the spirit of collaboration. Despite limited resources compared to larger cities, the local laboratory staff demonstrated remarkable adaptability and creativity. They were keen to exchange ideas and find practical solutions, which made the sessions interactive and enriching for all of us.

Personally, the trip reminded me of the value of knowledge sharing. Helping to strengthen the team’s capacity not only improved their confidence but also contributed to the overall quality of work within the lab. I left Kupang with a deep sense of fulfillment, knowing that the training would support more accurate results and better outcomes for their community.

In the end, my time in Kupang was more than a professional assignment. As an Indonesian, it was a meaningful opportunity to be part of the FOHG team to learn, teach, and grow together.

Rafina Tafsir, Microbiology Scientist, Perth
Volunteer with FOHG, August 2025