Difference between life and death

VISITING cardiologist Dr Vijay Kapadia says Fiji should start purchasing pacemakers because “they often make the difference between life and death”.

He said new initiatives like the Cardiac Care unit at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital were good but it needed a lot of support to make it effective in terms of addressing heart-related issues in patients.

Dr Kapadia said it was important to include health care experts, particularly doctors and nurses, at the front line in decision making and planning.

“We have continued our focus on heart diseases as they remain the greatest cause of morbidity and death in Fiji and the world,” he said.

“We have had some outstanding international talent contributing to our endeavours in Fiji.”

He said volunteer work had been happening at the CWMH for many years.

“A high quality tertiary cardiac service has been created there, it does need much more support.

“We have just had a team from New Zealand led by Dr Fiona Riddell and her colleagues and the pacemakers implanted were donated free by the Medtronic company.

“They have been doing so for two decades.”

Dr Kapadia said he was hopeful authorities in Fiji would start purchasing pacemakers.

“They often make the difference between life and death.

“We also hope for appropriate equipment for the cathlab so that interventional procedures can also be carried out as required

“As new initiatives are being seen in cardiac care, the unit at CWMH also needs great support so it too can contribute to the health of the people of Fiji.”