Sumintra Sundar was one of 25 patients who recently experienced a new beginning following successful laser treatment for kidney stones at Labasa Hospital. This week-long procedure was carried out by a medical team from Friends of Fiji Health (FOFH) from New Zealand.
The 60-year-old resident of Waidamudamu, Labasa, had been suffering from kidney stones since 2017. As a mother of three, she had been eagerly awaiting treatment from an overseas medical team, since laser treatment for kidney stones is not offered in either public or private hospitals in Fiji.
Previously, surgeries in public hospitals involved large incisions, but thanks to FOFH, patients can now benefit from completely internal surgery at Labasa. Ms. Sundar was the first patient in Fiji to undergo this innovative procedure, performed by team leader Dr. Imran Ali.
Post-surgery, she was seen enjoying quality time with her grandchildren and husband, Ram Sundar, at home. “I am truly grateful to FOFH for performing my surgery successfully,” Ms. Sundar expressed. “I was worried that the doctors might have to make cuts, but I was delighted to learn that the procedure involved no incisions at all.”
Dr. Ali shared his enthusiasm, stating he felt proud to serve Fiji and was thrilled to offer this procedure to everyday Fijians on behalf of FOFH. Established in July 2010, FOFH is a registered charity in New Zealand focused on assembling specialist teams to provide medical care to underserved communities in Fiji.
The team conducted free operations over the span of five days.