Sumintra Sundar is one of 25 patients who recently benefited from a groundbreaking laser treatment to remove kidney stones at Labasa Hospital. This treatment was part of a week-long initiative led by a medical team from Friends of Fiji Health (FOFH) based in New Zealand.
The 60-year-old resident of Waidamudamu, Labasa, had been struggling with kidney stones since 2017. Without access to laser treatment and minimally invasive techniques in Fiji’s public and private hospitals, Ms. Sundar had been awaiting assistance from overseas medical professionals.
Traditionally, kidney stone surgeries in public hospitals involved significant incisions, but thanks to FOFH, Labasa now offers fully internal surgery options. Ms. Sundar was the first patient in Fiji to undergo this innovative procedure, which was performed by Dr. Imran Ali, the team leader.
Post-surgery, she was seen enjoying quality time with her grandchildren and husband, Ram Sundar, at home. “I am really thankful to FOFH for carrying out my surgery successfully,” said Ms. Sundar. She expressed her relief over the non-invasive nature of the procedure, stating, “I was afraid that the doctors might cut me open, but I was really pleased that the procedure involved no cuts at all.”
Dr. Ali, expressing his pride in serving as a medical professional in Fiji, shared Ms. Sundar’s excitement about the ability to offer this procedure to ordinary Fijians through the FOFH initiative.
FOFH, established in July 2010 as a registered charity in New Zealand, aims to form specialized medical teams that travel to Fiji to deliver healthcare services to underserved communities. Over the course of five days, the team conducted multiple free operations.