Health project in Tonga gets funding boost

PICTURED: The proposed new operating theatre at Vaiola Hospital.

The Rotary Club of Whanganui North, NZ, has been instrumental in providing much needed health services in Tonga.

By Olivia Reid
Whanganui Chronicle

A global grant and more than $500,000 in donations have been provided to the Rotary Club of Whanganui North, NZ, for its ongoing medical work in Tonga.

Orthopaedic surgeon and Rotary Club of Whanganui North member Dr John van Dalen has travelled to Tonga up to four times a year for the past six years.

During his visits, John works with Vaiola Hospital in Tonga’s capital, Nuku’alofa, to carry out 12-14 operations on each trip.

Three years ago, the club raised $90,000 to finance John’s trips and to buy $35,000 of orthopaedic surgical trauma equipment, which John said was “sorely needed”.

As the project comes to its final year, John and the Rotary Club of Whanganui North plan to address the issue of joint replacement surgery in Tonga and the wider Pacific Islands.

A combination of the lack of suitable operating theatres and the cost of joint replacement surgery means it cannot currently be carried out in Tonga, forcing people to live with chronic pain and disabilities.

The new project is planned to take place over the next three years, starting in 2025, with stage one focusing on refurbishing the existing operating theatres at Vaiola Hospital.

The operating theatres have only a heat pump for temperature control and no HEPA filters, which remove dust, pollen, mould and bacteria from the air.

Two theatres will be fully upgraded, including air conditioning and HEPA filters as well as stainless steel wall linings, which aid in sterilisation.

The upgrade will help minimise the risk of infection to a level acceptable to international best practice,” John said.

Indian company Pharma Tech will upgrade the theatres, with prefabrication work already started. Installation is planned for February 15 to April 11 next year.

The upgrades will also benefit other international groups that provide medical aid, including a cardiac team from Australia.

The total project value of stage one US$291,396. US$103,396 has been raised by eight New Zealand Rotary clubs and one Australian club, including US$35,000 of Rotary district money raised from four New Zealand Rotary districts and one Australian district.

The Rotary Foundation has contributed US$28,000 and a further US$160,000 has been pledged by The Church of Jesus Christ Latter-day Saints, enabling the project to start in November 2024.

Stage two of the project will see a pilot orthopaedic surgical team visit Tonga in November 2025 to undertake at least six joint replacements. Rapid Relief Team (RRT), a registered charity established by the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church, has pledged US$75,000 to enable the first year’s scheduled operations to proceed.

PICTURED: Whanganui’s Dr John van Dalen (centre) with the surgical team at Vaiola Hospital, Dr Marina Tuinukuafe (left) and Dr Bill Tangi.

The Rotary Club of Whanganui North and the people of Tonga owe a great debt of gratitude to the two churches,” John said. “The project would not be proceeding without their generosity.”

If the pilot goes well, up to nine operations a year will be considered for 2026 and subsequent years.

The Rotary club considered a number of solutions for the issues with joint surgery in Tonga. This project was deemed the most sustainable as upskilling staff and upgrading theatres would allow high-quality procedures to continue outside of the club’s work.

Tongan surgeon Dr Tevita Tu’ungafasi took the post of orthopaedic registrar at Whanganui Hospital this year after upskilling in New Zealand. He plans to return to Tonga in early 2026 to aid with any post-operative complications following the pilot project’s surgery.