Reflections on Success: Health Center Voices

Federated States of Micronesia

Wa’ab Community Health Center
Yap

Wa’ab Community Health Center is located in Yap in the compact Nation of the Federated States of Micronesia, an island Nation located in the Pacific Ocean located northeast of Papua New Guinea. Yap has 7,391 people living in its main islands, with more than 98 percent of the population living below the U.S. Federal poverty level.

Before the health center was awarded health center funding in March 2006, the only health care provided in Yap was through the one hospital. Due to traveling distances to the hospital, many people did not access health care at all. With the funding of the Wa’ab Community Health Center, there are now five sites in the various villages on the island. The health center has developed health councils that work in conjunction with the village chiefs and those health councils have input and representation on the governing board of the health center. Some of the Yapese have never seen a doctor—now they have access to medical providers in their own villages.

One of the success stories are the health professionals working in Yap. Four of the five medical providers working in the health center are Yapese and trained in the Pacific medical officer training program. The fifth provider is a family practice physician, a National Health Service Corps (NHSC) provider, trained at the University of Hawaii. Dr. Hancock grew up with an adopted Yapese brother and has made it his life’s mission to work with the Yapese. When he finished his residency 2 years ago and was preparing to serve his NHSC obligation, he could have gone anywhere in the United States and easily made a salary over $100,000 a year. However, Dr. Hancock remained steadfast in his dedication to serve the Yapese, moved from the United States to Yap taking a salary of less then $25,000 a year working at the health center. Dr. Hancock is a shining example of the NHSC and is a key health leader in Yap.