Sumintra Sundar was one of 25 patients who recently benefited from pioneering laser treatment for kidney stones at Labasa Hospital. This innovative procedure was conducted last week 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 suffering from kidney stones since 2017. She had been waiting for an opportunity to receive treatment from an overseas medical team, as the laser and minimally invasive techniques were unavailable in both public and private hospitals in Fiji.
Previously, surgeries at public facilities required large incisions, but the new methods introduced by FOFH enabled entirely internal surgeries, significantly easing the recovery process for patients. Sundar was the first patient in Fiji to undergo this procedure, which was led by Dr. Imran Ali.
Following her successful surgery, Sundar enjoyed quality time with her husband, Ram Sundar, and their grandchildren at home. “I am really thankful to FOFH for carrying out my surgery successfully,” she said. “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 expressed pride in being able to provide this advanced treatment to the people of Fiji, emphasizing the organization’s mission to help underserved communities.
FOFH, a registered charity established in July 2010, aims to assemble specialist teams to deliver medical services to those in need in Fiji. Over five days, the team performed free operations, bringing hope and healing to many patients.