Upgrading Operating Theatres at Vaiola Hospital, Nuku’alofa, Tonga
Project History
Five years ago, Dr John van Dalen, an Orthopaedic Surgeon, and a member of the Rotary club of Whanganui North, Whanganui, New Zealand began regular visits to Tonga to assist the general surgical team with complex fractures. Over the subsequent years the Orthopaedic Surgical Trauma Project was instigated with support from Rotary International and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of New Zealand, allowing for an improved service. A special trauma table was sourced from New Zealand which enabled surgical procedures, not previously on offer, to be undertaken from December 2022.
With the increased use of internal fixation for fractures, it became evident that the operating theatres at Vaiola Hospital in Nuku’alofa, Tonga, built in 2005, required upgrading to acceptable current “clean air” standards to minimize intraoperative infection. There was also a desire to be able to offer joint replacement surgery to patients with disabling arthritis of the hip and knee joints.
As a follow on from the Orthopaedic Surgical Project, this project evolved with the focus of upgrading existing operating theatres in Vaiola Hospital to best practice standards.
The advantage of upgrading an operating theatres is to achieve a low intra operative infection rate of less than 5%. As a result, more invasive surgery, such as joint replacement surgery, could be offered to the Tongan community. In addition, the local surgical and nursing staff would learn new skills with the increased range of surgery on offer.
The plan is to have the upgrade undertaken by specialist operating theatres contractors from India at competitive costs, with input from Dr Manju Basappa, Orthopaedic Surgeon in Bangalore, India as the main liaison person. It was Quantum Surgical Ltd and Dr Basappa who were instrumental in providing the equipment for the Orthopaedic Surgical Trauma project which continues to benefit the Tongan people.
Project Costs Summary
| USD | |
|---|---|
| Materials/Labour upgrade two operating OT’s | $112,500 |
| Flights/Accommodation | $22,500 |
| Shipping | $5,000 |
| Maintenance | $5,000 |
| Contingency 10% | $15,000 |
| Subtotal | $160,000 |
| USD | |
|---|---|
| Prostheses $1350 per case (15 cases) | $20,000 |
| Three team visits 2025/26 (Surgeon & two theatres nurses per visit) | $37,500 |
| Materials – cement, drapes etc | $12,500 |
| Maintenance | $5,000 |
| Contingency 10% | $7,500 |
| Admin 5% Stage one and two | $12,500 |
| Subtotal | $90,000 |