Sumintra Sundar was one of 25 patients who recently benefited from a pioneering laser treatment to remove kidney stones at Labasa Hospital. The procedure, conducted by a team from Friends of Fiji Health (FOFH) from New Zealand, took place over the course of a week.
The 60-year-old resident of Waidamudamu, Labasa, had been suffering from kidney stones since 2017. As treatment options for kidney stones using laser technology and minimally invasive flexible telescopic cameras were unavailable in Fiji, she had been eagerly waiting for an overseas medical team to arrive.
Traditionally, surgeries performed in public hospitals involved significant incisions. However, thanks to FOFH, patients at Labasa now have access to entirely internal procedures. Ms. Sundar was the first patient in Fiji to undergo this advanced treatment, overseen by Dr. Imran Ali, the team leader.
Following her successful surgery, she expressed gratitude while spending time with her grandchildren and husband, Ram Sundar. “I am really thankful to FOFH for carrying out my surgery successfully,” Ms. Sundar said. She was relieved that the procedure required no incisions, which had initially caused her concern.
Dr. Ali shared his pride in being able to provide this innovative treatment to everyday Fijians on behalf of FOFH, an organization established in July 2010. FOFH is a registered charity in New Zealand dedicated to sending teams of specialists to Fiji to offer medical care to underserved communities. Over the five-day period, the medical team performed numerous free operations.