Sumintra Sundar was one of 25 patients who received life-changing laser treatment for kidney stones at Labasa Hospital. This week-long procedure was conducted 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. She had been waiting for assistance from an overseas medical team, as laser treatment and minimally invasive techniques using flexible telescopic cameras are unavailable in Fiji’s public and private hospitals. Previously, surgeries in public hospitals required larger incisions, but thanks to FOFH, completely internal surgery is now an option at Labasa.
Ms. Sundar was the first patient in Fiji to undergo this advanced procedure, led by Dr. Imran Ali. After the surgery, she was seen enjoying quality time with her grandchildren and husband, Ram Sundar, at home. In a statement of gratitude, Ms. Sundar expressed her thanks to FOFH for the successful surgery. “I was afraid that the doctors might cut me open, but I was really pleased that the procedure involved no cuts at all,” she remarked.
Dr. Ali, who expressed pride in being able to offer this service to fellow Fijians, represented FOFH in providing this essential treatment. Established in July 2010, FOFH is a registered charity in New Zealand, dedicated to sending teams of specialists to Fiji to deliver medical care to underserved communities.
Over five days, the team performed free surgeries for patients in need.