An Australian plastic and reconstructive medical team arrives in Honiara this week and will spend two weeks working at the National Referral Hospital in Honiara and Gizo hospital undertaking plastic and reconstructive surgery and training local staff.

The medical team, which will be in Solomon Islands from 7 to 19 June 2013, is funded by AusAID and arranged by Interplast Australia and New Zealand, with support from Rotary.

The team will be led by Mr Darrell Nam and includes two plastic surgeons, anesthetist and two nurses. A consultation clinic at the National Referral Hospital will be held on 7 June and plastic and reconstructive surgery will be performed at the hospital from 10 to 14 June 2013.

The team will travel to Gizo from 15 to 19 June 2013. A consultation clinic will be held at the Gizo Hospital on Monday 17 June, with plastic and reconstructive surgery to be performed at the Gizo Hospital on 17 and 18 June.

Patients with conditions including cleft lip and palate, scarring from burns, hand injuries and tumours are urged to contact the surgical unit at the National Referral Hospital and Gizo Hospital for an appointment. The Interplast team will not treat patients with common skin diseases or cosmetic conditions.

Australian High Commissioner to Solomon Islands Matt Anderson said Interplast medical teams have been visiting the Solomon Islands since 1984 providing free surgery and treatment to help Solomon Islanders.

“This is the 33rd Interplast visit to Solomon Islands and they have undertaken 1,710 consultations and performed 1,092 life-changing operations,” Mr Anderson said.

“The plastic and reconstructive medical team gives Solomon Islanders the chance for specialist medical treatment not available in Solomon Islands but not only do they help the people they operate on, they also increase the skills and knowledge of local doctors and nurses at the hospitals.”

Mr Anderson said the visit by the plastic and reconstructive medical team is one of several specialist medical visits made every year to Solomon Islands and is an important part of Australia’s assistance to the people and Government of Solomon Islands through the Partnership for Development.

Australia funds around 50 surgical visiting teams to Pacific Island countries every year. This assistance, under AusAID's Pacific Islands Program which is managed by the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, fills gaps in local medical services and provides on-the-job training to local medical staff.

For more information on the medical team visit, please contact the National Referral Hospital on 23600 or Gizo Hospital on 62112.

 

Press Release