Christmas Island is a magical destination, not simply for its world-class angling opportunities but also for its strikingly beautiful natural resources and happy, compassionate I-Kiribati people. If your angling adventure bucket list includes a visit to Kiritimati – and it certainly should – then Christmas Island Lodge is a great place to consider for a superb fly fishing holiday.
Living in such a remote spot is not without its challenges and a little while ago, we wrote about the plan to host a team of medical experts in April this year. We’ve just received this great recap from the lodge after a very busy and successful visit.
In April, Christmas Island Lodge partnered with the non-profit organization, Oceans of Gratitude to host our first Doctor’s Week. This trip brought in an unbelievable team of doctors, nurses and specialists to provide health care to our surrounding communities. The team consisted of ophthalmologists, dentists, wound care specialists, and primary care nurses, to see patients and do a little fishing.
The first day found us at the local primary school in the community, Banana, a school that Christmas Island Lodge works with on several fronts. Over the course of our time on the Island we have worked with the school to provide Starlink connection giving access to tutoring with educators in Honolulu, purchased a generator to ensure they have power during times the Government power does not work and school supplies that many of our guests bring over each week. Most of our staff have children that attend this school and it is our goal to provide as many resources as possible. As we geared up for a full day the kids put on one heck of a welcome for us, there was singing, dancing and noticeable excitement as the Care Team set up to provide eye exams, dental checks, ear cleanings, scoliosis screenings and generalized health checks. Once all the kids got checked out, the Care Team had time to work with school staff and surrounding community members.
After a couple days of fishing, the Care Team set up at our hotel, this venue was the perfect place to treat patients as we were able to set up dedicated rooms allowing each specialist to treat patients. Over the course of those two days we saw over 500 patients, once word got out on what was happening trucks full of people began showing up, the response was overwhelming, but the Care Team never batted an eye. I was unbelievably impressed with how everyone stepped up and took the time to treat each patient. Hundreds of teeth were pulled, patients with diabetic retinopathy came in and were treated utilizing cutting-edge laser therapy, literally showing up blind and leaving with their sight again. Community members suffering from wounds associated with motorcycle wrecks and diabetic complications were treated and given antibiotics, more than 150 community members were given prescription glasses, hundreds of general health care checks took place, it was incredible the amount of work and the number of patients that were attended to in a short amount of time.
When the dust settled and we all sat down for the last dinner together, I was so impressed with what this Team had just accomplished, it moved me to tears. It was an incredible display of compassion, professionalism, philanthropy and care.
For those of us that operate businesses in remote regions of the world, we have the unique opportunity to meet people and build relationships that are so unexpected, it is on us to figure out ways to meaningfully interact with these communities, support them where we are able, work together to build skill sets and knowledge that benefit a much larger community than the ones we work with on a daily basis. As you travel the world with a fly rod in your hand take the time to understand the biggest way you can meaningfully impact the lives of the people that live in the places you choose to go to. Your vacation is a snapshot in time, for the people you meet this is their home where generations of families have lived, take the extra step to give back, I can tell you it will be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life. This will be a yearly event at the Lodge and we hope that you all will continue to support our efforts to make this happen.
If this Christmas Island Lodge story has piqued your interest in fishing these incredible waters and you would like further details or an itinerary then please contact Peter McLeod or Olly Thompson or call our office on +44(0) 1980 847389.
