MEDIA RELEASE
Released By:
Gallus
In the past two weeks, Australian medical teams in Fiji have saved the lives
of more than 30 people, including 17 children, the Parliamentary Secretary for
Foreign Affairs, Mrs Chris Gallus, said today from Suva.
Mrs Gallus visited patients recovering from open-heart surgery at the
Colonial War Memorial Hospital in Suva. The patients were recently operated on
by Operation Open Heart surgical teams, partially funded by the Australian
Government.
'Australian volunteer medical teams have operated on critical patients who
cannot access specialists or afford cardiac treatments,' said Mrs Gallus.
'The Operation Open Heart team is helping build the Pacific's capacity to
tackle these problems independently by sharing clinical skills and running
teaching sessions.'
'The majority of the team has been taking part in this program since it began
in 1990, doing so in their own time without payment and have achieved some
remarkable results, including more than 300 open heart operations over the past
15 years.'
'The program also assists professionals with the diagnosis and treatment of
heart disease and contributes to preventative programs in Fiji,' Mrs Gallus
said.
'The 48 Operation Open Heart team members come from across Australia, with
life-saving volunteers from Sydney, Newcastle, Melbourne, Canberra, Adelaide and
Perth.'
'Operation Open Heart is part of an Australian Government project that
provides ongoing education and training for local medical, nursing and allied
health staff.'
'The Australian Government contributed to this year's Operation Open Heart
activities in Fiji as part of a project coordinated by the Sydney Adventist
Hospital and the Adventist Development Relief Agency,' Mrs Gallus said.
Media contacts:
Shane Fairlie (Office of Mrs Gallus) 0408 680 442 or 02 6277
4840
Jo Elsom (AusAID) 02 6206 4960 or 0412 804 489