Grandmother Amla Wati is expressing her gratitude to the Friends of Fiji Health charitable organization from New Zealand for giving her a new lease on life following her operation on Wednesday.
Friends of Fiji Health, comprising doctors, nurses, and support staff, have been performing complex surgeries at the Labasa Divisional Hospital since last Friday.
Ms. Wati, 62, from Korovatu, Labasa, had her gall bladder stone removed on Wednesday at the Labasa Divisional Hospital.
“I had been in pain for two months, and the news that an overseas team of medical experts was coming to perform operations gave me hope,” Ms. Wati said.
“I was scared at the thought of undergoing the operation, but I am grateful to the team that carried it out. They were gentle and friendly. The team from overseas, along with local surgeons, did an excellent job, and I feel healthy again.”
Ms. Wati underwent a two-hour operation and is currently recovering in the hospital.
“Following this successful operation, I can’t wait to share with my community how these wonderful doctors and others have medically transformed my life,” she said. “At this age, the cost of such operations is expensive, so I am thankful that the service was free of charge.”
“Any operation that relieves people of their pain is a good deed,” said Hazeem Hussein, Labasa Hospital Board of Visitors chairperson. Hussein praised the medical team for sacrificing their time to help patients with complex surgeries.
The team will return to New Zealand this week. Hussein remains hopeful for more visits from the NZ team in the future.