Caption: A little
patient with one of the team member from Operation of Hope.
By MATTHEW VARI
OPERATION of Hope has been a resounding for the Pacific International Hospital (PIH) and its sponsors and patient.
Concluding last week, the 6 days of life changing cleft lip and palate surgeries have given over 33 patients from over 40 selected throughout 14 provinces, new leases to their facial appearance that were once tainted by their condition.
The success of the first of its kind arrangement for the patients also unfortunately saw some being turned away as they did not meet the screening requirements for their own safety for the procedure.
The team of eight from the US were led by lead surgeon Roy Kim, who also did additional surgery on a special case where a patient who had suffered from the disfigurement also had scaring from a burn incident.
It was explained and advised for the future arrangement of the operations that patients 10 years and below to apply as the age also affected the outcome of the procedure of those with cleft palate, which contributed to some patients missing out also.
Otherwise those with cleft lip only have no restrictions on age for the Operation of Hope surgery requirements.
But in a positive light for the next operation of hope, the operations are set to be undertaken in around September and October in 2015 with a much bigger team expected for a much larger number of patients to fully utilize the new PIH’s three operating theatres compared to the current facility’s one operating theatre.
The public is encouraged to get in touch with PIH in preparations for the 2015 operations as early as possible for communication and preparation on 71558866 for what is going to be an annual event on the PIH calender.
Organizers also thanked the various sponsors that made the event a success in the likes of Rio Tinto, Brian Bell, Anga u Memorial Hospital, Rimbunan Hijau, and the West New Britain provincial government- including the discounted assistance for airfares and accomodation provided by Airlines PNG and Hotel Hodava, and Laila Foundation for its efforts to assist with return fares for 10 patients.
The 6 day operating procedure was capped of with a Christmas gathering held last Friday to present gifts to all patients that were operated on to top off the operation success and the festive season.
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