Improving Diabetes-Related Foot Disease Management care in the Solomon Islands
The burden of diabetes and its complications is a growing challenge in the Solomon Islands. With diabetes-related foot disease (DFD) leading to a high number of amputations, there is a need for improved management strategies. Scott Siota, a General Surgeon from the Solomon Islands, is taking part in an observership at Barwon Health through the National Referral Hospital Twinning Program, supported by the Australia Awards Fellowships. This experience aims to enhance his understanding of best practices in managing DFD and post-surgical care to better treat his community.
We asked Scott a few questions to gain further insights into his Australia Awards Fellowships journey:
What inspired you to take part in the observership?
“The burden of diabetes, especially cases of diabetes-related foot disease (DFD), is overwhelmingly increasing in my country. Being a surgeon, each week I perform about 3-4 major amputations for ascending diabetic foot sepsis. Post-surgery, many amputees find themselves in wheelchairs or relying on crutches due to the lack of podiatrists, orthotists, and other specialists who can assist their recovery. After reading various research papers, I realized that there are better pathways to manage such cases. This observership at Barwon Health inspired me to explore ways to handle these cases in a manner suitable for the Solomon Islands.”
What are you hoping to learn during your time visiting Barwon Health?
“Being a surgeon, my first goal was to observe the vascular team’s approach to major amputations for DFD, their follow-up care post-surgery, rehabilitation processes, and prosthetic development. Since we do not have specialists in these areas—only general surgeons managing all aspects of care—I hope to shadow a podiatrist to gain insights into their role and how they manage DFD cases.”
How have you found the experience so far?
“The experience has been overwhelmingly eye-opening for me. Here, DFD cases are managed through a multidisciplinary team approach, addressing patients’ medical, physical, and even legal needs. The sense of teamwork is evident, and I am very impressed. The technical resources, human resource capacities, and facilities at Barwon Health are well-suited to their current needs. In my opinion, the Barwon Health staff have demonstrated a very high standard of professionalism in both their work and their overall environment.”
Looking Ahead
Scott Siota’s journey at Barwon Health is more than just an observership—it is a pathway to transforming diabetic foot disease management in the Solomon Islands. By learning from a multidisciplinary team and understanding holistic patient care approaches, he hopes to implement sustainable changes back home. His experience highlights international collaborations in bridging healthcare gaps and improving patient outcomes worldwide.
