Grandmother Amla Wati expresses her gratitude to the Friends of Fiji Health charitable organization from New Zealand for providing her with a new lease on life after her surgery on Wednesday.
Friends of Fiji Health, comprising doctors, nurses, and support staff, have been performing complex surgeries at the Labasa Divisional Hospital since last Friday.
Ms. Wati, 62, from Korovatu, Labasa, had her gallbladder stone removed on Wednesday at the Labasa Divisional Hospital.
“I had been in pain for two months, and the news that an overseas team of medical experts was coming to do operations gave me hope,” Ms. Wati said. “I was scared about the thought of having the operation, but I am grateful to the team that carried out the task. They were gentle and friendly. The team from overseas and the local surgeons who performed the operation were really good, and I feel healthy again.”
Ms. Wati underwent a two-hour operation and is currently recovering in the hospital.
“Following this successful operation, I can’t wait to share with my community how these wonderful doctors and others have medically transformed my life,” she said. “At this age, the cost of such operations is expensive, and I am thankful that the service was free of charge.”
“Any operation that relieves people of their pain is an example of a good deed,” said Labasa Hospital Board of Visitors chairperson Hazeem Hussein. Mr. Hussein noted that the medical team members sacrificed their time to assist patients with complex surgeries and operations.
The team is scheduled to return to New Zealand this week, and Mr. Hussein is hopeful for more visits from the New Zealand team in the future.