Sumintra Sundar is one of 25 patients who recently benefited from a groundbreaking laser treatment for kidney stones at Labasa Hospital. The procedure, which took place over a week, was carried out by a medical team from Friends of Fiji Health (FOFH) from New Zealand.
At 60 years old, Sundar, a resident of Waidamudamu in Labasa, had been living with kidney stones since 2017. She had been waiting for treatment, as laser and minimally invasive options were not previously available in Fiji’s public or private hospitals.
Traditionally, kidney stone surgeries in public hospitals involved large incisions, but thanks to the efforts of FOFH, Sundar was treated using entirely internal methods. She was the first patient in Fiji to undergo this procedure, led by Dr. Imran Ali, the team’s leader.
Post-surgery, Sundar joyfully spent time with her grandchildren and husband, Ram Sundar. “I am really thankful to FOFH for carrying out my surgery successfully,” she expressed. “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 also shared his pride in being able to provide this medical advancement to the people of Fiji. FOFH, a charity established in July 2010, aims to form teams of specialists to deliver medical care to underprivileged communities in Fiji. The medical team conducted free surgeries over a span of five days.