Sumintra Sundar was one of 25 patients who recently benefited from a pioneering laser treatment for kidney stone removal at Labasa Hospital. The procedure was part of a week-long initiative conducted by a medical team from Friends of Fiji Health (FOFH) from New Zealand.
The 60-year-old resident of Waidamudamu, Labasa, had been suffering from kidney stones since 2017 and had been hoping to receive treatment from an overseas medical team, as such procedures using laser technology and minimally invasive techniques are not available in Fijian public or private hospitals. Previously, surgeries in public hospitals required larger incisions, but FOFH has now brought advanced internal surgical options to Labasa.
Ms. Sundar was the first patient in Fiji to undergo this innovative procedure, skillfully performed by team leader Dr. Imran Ali. Following her surgery, she spent quality time with her grandchildren and husband, Ram Sundar, at their home. She expressed her gratitude, stating, “I am really thankful to FOFH for carrying out my surgery successfully.” She also shared her initial fear about the possibility of a large incision but was relieved that the procedure involved no cuts at all.
Dr. Ali expressed his pride in being able to offer this lifesaving treatment to Fijians and shared in Ms. Sundar’s excitement. FOFH, established in July 2010, is a charity organization from New Zealand dedicated to assembling teams of specialists to provide medical care to underserved communities in Fiji. The team performed free surgeries over a span of five days.