The Flying Doctor touched down in the remote community of Kingoonya last month, empowering local men to take care of their health.
Hosted by the RFDS and Preventive Health SA, the three-day program had all bases covered with a Rural Generalist, Mental Health Clinician, Dietitian and Community Health Nurse all delivering educational activities.
Eleven local Kingoonya community members welcomed the RFDS team to learn more about the often-taboo topic of bowel screenings.
When caught early, bowel cancer is treatable in over 90 per cent of cases, but it’s an area of the body that most people feel uncomfortable and even embarrassed talking about.
By educating on Country, the Flying Doctor hopes to break down barriers of shame and highlight the importance of prevention and regular screening.
“Being in a familiar and comfortable environment plays an important role in supporting engagement in screening programs like this,” RFDS Aboriginal Health Practitioner Kristen Besant said.
“To have 11 community members actively engage in vital screening, who had never been screened for bowel cancer, highlights how culturally appropriate approaches can make a real difference.”
Bringing these services from the city to the outback is vital for communities like Kingoonya, more than 600 kilometres from Adelaide.
"Access to regular care and screening is very important to people in remote areas like us and many others in outback country,” Kingoonya resident Lenny Willis said.
“Communities would like to see this as an ongoing program.”
The Kingoonya health camp is one of many the Flying Doctor delivers in remote communities.
The program was made possible through generous support from the Kingoonya Community and Kingoonya Schoolhouse Cafe.
“Their willingness to open their doors made it possible to create a welcoming and comfortable environment for everyone involved,” Kristen said.
The Kingoonya health camp follows similar RFDS initiatives run with men’s and women’s groups in the remote communities of Marree and Oodnadatta.
Community-led, culturally appropriate programs like these are an important step in improving access to early diagnosis, preventative care and closing the health equity gap across rural and remote Australia.
Learn more about the Flying Doctor.
