The Tonga joint replacement team has reached its goal of ten joint replacements during the week at Vaiola Hospital. Dr John van Dalen said it was a wonderful achievement for the whole team.
Friday's operations were a right total knee replacement, followed by a total hip replacement.
Teaching local surgeons
John also did some teaching during the day. Using sawbones (synthetic bone models) and the trauma equipment that the team brought from India, he showed local surgeons how to use the gear for fracture surgery.
A thank-you dinner
In the evening the team hosted a thank-you dinner, with about sixty hospital staff there to celebrate the week's joint replacements. John gave a short speech of thanks. "Without their help and support, we would not have been able to achieve what we've done," he said.
In the second theatre, Christchurch surgeon Dr Tom Sharp spent nine hours fixing a fractured shinbone that needed to be redone, and also did other trauma surgery during the week.
What's next
The team will spend Saturday checking on patients before they leave. Most patients who had surgery during the week are expected to be discharged over the weekend, and some have already gone home.
John described it as a very satisfying day, although a late one.
Help fund the next 25
Rotary Club of Whanganui North has set up a Givealittle page to fund 25 more joint replacements in 2027. Each replacement costs about NZ$8,000, around a quarter of the private price in New Zealand. The goal is NZ$200,000.
Donate on Givealittle (opens in a new tab)
Read the earlier updates: day one, day two, day three and day four.