Sumintra Sundar was one of 25 patients who recently underwent successful laser treatment to eliminate kidney stones at Labasa Hospital. The week-long procedure was carried out by a medical team from Friends of Fiji Health (FOFH) based in New Zealand.
Sundar, a 60-year-old resident of Waidamudamu in Labasa, had been dealing with kidney stones since 2017. She had been eagerly awaiting an opportunity to be treated by an international medical team, as the technology for laser treatment and minimally invasive techniques is not available in Fiji’s public or private healthcare facilities.
In the past, surgeries in public hospitals required large incisions, but the introduction of this innovative procedure at Labasa, courtesy of FOFH, now allows for completely internal surgery. Sundar was the very first patient in Fiji to undergo this cutting-edge procedure, performed by team leader Dr. Imran Ali.
Following her surgery, Sundar spent quality time with her grandchildren and her husband, Ram Sundar, at home. “I am really thankful to FOFH for carrying out my surgery successfully,” she expressed. “I was afraid the doctors might have to cut me open, but I was really pleased that the procedure involved no cuts at all.”
Dr. Ali shared his pride in being able to offer this procedure to everyday Fijians, expressing excitement alongside Sundar for the advancements made possible by FOFH. Established in July 2010, FOFH is a registered charity from New Zealand with the mission of organizing medical teams to provide essential treatment to underserved communities in Fiji. Over five days, the team conducted free operations for patients in need.