NZ surgeons travel to Samoa on voluntary mission

Transcript

A team of 55 medical professionals from Aotearoa, including surgeons, anaesthetists, technical and support staff, are now returning to New Zealand.

The General Manager of National Health Services, Palanitina Tupuimatagi Toelupe says 13 patients have successfully undergone heart surgeries in Samoa and are now in post-operative care.

   "People have been very grateful and we are very very grateful with the expert assistance through this mission and the patients are doing well except for one that was critically ill but coming through. And we can't say any more than thank you. It has been very good."

She says patients were carefully selected.

   "We were also making sure that they are patients that have waited in the queue for a while and need treatment but couldn't be transferred immediately. There was also a joint effort by both the NZ team and the Samoa team way before the operations to identify the appropriate cases. And yes they are young and old and male and female."

Palanitina Tupuimatagi Toelupe says the mission has allowed locals to save money and stay in Samoa supported by family and friends as they recover.

The chair of the Samoa Heart Mission Trust, Anae Arthur Anae, says medical staff voluntarily gave up their time and expertise to assist.

   "Oh well it is one of those things that we know it's a very serious situation in Samoa and probably other Pacific Islands the number of people who die from heart disease simply because they can't afford to pay for the various kinds of expensive operations we have. I am very grateful here to the New Zealand doctors and nurses who give up their time to try and assist these people in the Pacific. And this is from the heart and it's genuine and they want to do it and I am thrilled."

He says that New Zealand offers many health benefits and the New Zealand based Trust raised close to US$30,000 (NZ$40,000) 8 years ago (2009).

   "If New Zealand didn't have the health system that we had, a lot of people wouldn't make it. And because we have a health system thats free and lucky enough to get through the system and get a heart operation, well that is absolutely brilliant.   We are lucky enough to have medical insurance and then they get through it that way. So we are a very fortunate and lucky nation of people to what our government and people do here, in comparison to other parts of the world."

Palanitina Tupuimatagi Toelupe says the delay was due to having to prepare for the team to come over, including equipment costs, resourcing, travel and accommodation.

She says they are now focusing on post-operative care for patients and some staff, with two cardiologists and some nurses staying on in Samoa for longer.