Sumintra Sundar is one of 25 patients who recently underwent successful laser treatment for kidney stones at Labasa Hospital. The week-long procedure was conducted by a medical team from Friends of Fiji Health (FOFH) from New Zealand. Sumintra, a 60-year-old resident of Waidamudamu in Labasa, had been suffering from kidney stones since 2017.
As the treatment involving laser technology and minimally invasive techniques is not offered in Fiji’s public or private hospitals, she had been eagerly awaiting assistance from an international medical team. Unlike past surgeries that required large incisions, the new method involves entirely internal procedures, a transition made possible by FOFH.
Ms. Sundar was the first patient in Fiji to receive this type of procedure, performed by Dr. Imran Ali, the team leader. Following her surgery, she was seen happily spending time with her grandchildren and her husband, Ram Sundar. “I am really thankful to FOFH for carrying out my surgery successfully,” she expressed. She added, “I was afraid that the doctors might cut me open, but I was really pleased that the procedure involved no cuts at all.”
Dr. Ali expressed pride in being able to offer this advanced procedure to the Fijian community, stating he was excited alongside Ms. Sundar. Friends of Fiji Health is a charitable organization from New Zealand, established in July 2010, focusing on sending specialist medical teams to Fiji to provide care to underserved populations. During their recent visit, the team conducted free surgeries over five days.