First medical breakthrough for the Friendly North
Fijian medical specialists are capable of conducting complex medical procedures such as brain tumor surgery in hospitals outside of the cities.. Labasa Hospital medical staff has for the first time successfully conducted a brain tumour surgery which is something not many would believe could happen. But it did happen, in the North.
The Minister for Health and Medical Services Rosy Akbar praised and acknowledged the hard work put in by local doctors which were not always recognised. She highlighted the particular case which involved the local doctors at the Labasa Hospital.
Without the help of medical professionals at the hospital, the operation would not have been successful. The Minister did highlight that local doctors and nurses would always be under the spotlight as they were providing an essential service.
A local neurosurgeon and his team responded to the challenge and successfully did the operation.
The surgery in Labasa was conducted by Dr Alan Biribo who is a neurosurgeon at CWM Hospital and with Pacific Health Specialist at Walu Bay in Suva. “The aim was to conduct brain tumor surgery at Labasa Hospital and also to see whether we have the capabilities to conduct complex operations,” Dr Biribo said. The plan to actually operate on a male Fijian in the Northern Division was conceived during a routine check a few weeks ago.
The patient Levi Babana of Savusavu had a large parafalcine tumor and was left under the care of Doctor Maloni Bulanauca and the team.
Mr Babana spent about seven days in hospital before being discharged, and now he is happy to be alive. So for those who say, that no complex surgery can ever be conducted in any of the smaller hospitals in Fiji, this is just a glimpse of future possibilities.
If the Ministry looked at its budget right and ensured that operation theatres and qualified medical staff are in each hospital in Fiji, we would not have to keep sending our family members to Suva, private hospitals or even overseas.
Labasa Hospital actually has the capability and capacity to deal with such a complex case and if given the opportunity other hospitals located in other parts of Fiji can do the same.
This is the first brain tumor surgery done at Labasa Hospital. It shows that the hospital has the capacity and capability to deal with complex cases and provide excellent postoperative care.
It’s indeed a breakthrough for the Friendly North medical team.