MILESTONE SURGERIES CONDUCTED BY VISITING DOCTORS IN PMGH
A team of volunteer doctors from Australia arrived in the country this week to help advance oncologic and Ear, Nose, Throat (ENT), Head and Neck surgery.
Arriving last Sunday, the team is working alongside local health workers to screen patients and meet with the management of Port Moresby General Hospital and the School of Medicine and Health Sciences at the University of Papua New Guinea, which is set to become a standalone university.
They will also conduct teaching and simulation workshops before departing Port Moresby at the end of the week.
Starting Monday, simulation lectures on microvascular anastomosis surgery, along with hands-on training, were delivered to local surgeons.
Chief ENT Surgeon at Port Moresby General Hospital, Dr. James Naipao, said the hands-on participation by postgraduate training registrars marks significant progress, noting that such training has not been conducted since independence.
Today, an unprecedented oral cavity cancer surgery was performed. The procedure involved excision, neck dissection, two-site microvascular flap harvest one from the thigh and one from the leg and reconstructive surgery, marking a first in 50 years.
Local surgeons Dr. Dean Wahembari and Dr. Bradley Bibilo assisted and scrubbed in, along with postgraduate training registrar Dr. Sifa Teumohenga.
Dr. Naipao emphasized the importance of focusing on training the next generation of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck surgeons.
“It is also our duty to train Pacific doctors, as we are their big brother,” he said.
“As cancer of the head and neck region continues to rise in Papua New Guinea and is unlikely to decline anytime soon, building skills in local, regional, and distant reconstructive surgery is essential for our surgeons and postgraduate trainees,” Dr. Naipao said.
“Visits like this bring a wealth of experience and help introduce surgical skills that are often only read about in textbooks, without hands-on exposure. We greatly appreciate this support,” he added.
The team is led by Professor Christopher Perry, who is no stranger to Papua New Guinea.
The visiting team includes Professor Roger Grigg, Dr. Campbell Schmidt, and Dr. Robert Calvisi, all highly experienced in oncologic head and neck surgery. Professor Grigg also undertakes volunteer surgical work in the Republic of Vanuatu.
The team is accompanied by nurses Kristen Ballin and Jess Urquhart, who have also participated in volunteer missions to the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.
This marks the first time a larger contingent from this specialty has visited the country.
The team’s visit was acknowledged by Chief ENT Surgeon Dr. James Naipao.
Additionally, two specialist nurses will deliver presentations to general and theatre nurses this Thursday.
The visiting team has also acknowledged the Department of Health, the School of Medicine and Health Sciences at the University of Papua New Guinea, and Port Moresby General Hospital for supporting this visit.
End.
