Sumintra Sundar was one of 25 patients who recently underwent successful laser treatment for kidney stones at Labasa Hospital, marking a new chapter in medical care in Fiji. The treatment, conducted over the course of a week, was provided by a medical team from Friends of Fiji Health (FOFH) based in New Zealand.
The 60-year-old resident of Waidamudamu, Labasa, had been living with kidney stones since 2017. As laser treatment is not available in either public or private hospitals in Fiji, she had been awaiting assistance from an overseas medical team. Previously, surgeries performed in public hospitals involved significant incisions, unlike the minimally invasive procedures now offered thanks to the efforts of FOFH.
Ms. Sundar was the first in Fiji to receive this innovative procedure, led by Dr. Imran Ali. Following the surgery, she expressed her joy by spending time with her grandchildren and husband, Ram Sundar, at home. “I am really thankful to FOFH for carrying out my surgery successfully,” she stated, relieved that the procedure did not involve any cuts.
Dr. Ali shared his excitement about providing this service to Fijians, expressing pride in his heritage. FOFH, a registered charity in New Zealand since July 2010, aims to assemble teams of specialists to deliver medical treatment to underserved communities in Fiji. The team performed free operations over a span of five days, significantly impacting the lives of those they treated.