07 August 2019, Apia Samoa. An Interplast team focusing on reconstructive surgical services will visit Samoa at the end of this month to conduct clinics in Upolu & Savaii.
Funded by the Australian Government and Rotary Clubs in Australia and New Zealand Interplast medical teams have been visiting Samoa for over 35 years and the 2019 program will be the 37th Interplast visit to Samoa.
Since its first visit in 1983 they have provided 2789 consultations and 1406 life-changing procedures in Samoa.
Led by Dr Benjamin Norris the team includes two plastic surgeons, an anaesthetist, three nurses and a physiotherapist.
They will be facilitating plastic and reconstructive surgical services and training local doctors at the Malietoa Tanumafili II (MT2) Hospital in Savaii from in the first week 28 – 31 August before spending their second week at the Tupua Tamasese Meaole (TTM) Hospital in Apia from 2–7 September 2019.
The first day of each segment will be consultation clinics to assess the cases presented. These will be held on Wednesday 28th August at MT2 Hospital in Savaii and Monday 2nd September at TTM Hospital in Apia.
Patients with conditions including cleft lip and palate, scarring from burns, hand injuries and tumours are urged to contact the Surgical Unit at the TTM Hospital or Dr Nolan Fuamatu at MT2 Hospital for an appointment.
To prioritise demand of more serious conditions, patients with common skin diseases or cosmetic conditions will be excluded from this consultation.
The physiotherapist will provide mentoring to the local physiotherapy department but also assist in patient rehabilitation of patients seen.
The Australian Government, through the Pacific Islands Program (PIP), supports approximately 50 specialist surgical/medical teams every year in the Pacific. The PIP is managed by the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, fill specific gaps in local medical services and provide capacity building to local medical staff.
To make an appointment to see the Interplast team at TTM Hospital, contact:
Dr Aleki Fuimaono or Dr Petueli Emose – Surgical Unit at TTM Hospital. Ph: +685 66600
Dr Nolan Fuamatu – Senior Medical Officer – MT2 Hospital. Ph: +685 53511
