A PanAust sponsored Interplast surgical team has successfully completed a five day visit to the East Sepik Province, providing life-changing free surgeries and building the capacity of local medical teams. Over the course of their visit, a five-person team of Australian surgical volunteers worked alongside Papua New Guinea medical and nursing staff performing 17 surgeries, conducting fifty consultations, and providing clinical training to 18 surgeons, nurses, and anaesthetic support staff.

Among the surgical procedures performed were life-altering operations such as burns reconstruction, upper limb surgery, scar revision, and in the case of 17-month-old Nachain from the Wosera Geawi District, correcting a complex congenital condition.

Nachain presented with a condition called bilateral complex foot polydactyly where a person is born with extra digits on one or both feet. Nachain had extra digits on both her feet and while her condition was not life threatening, her parents were worried that if left untreated, her ailment would affect her ability to walk and wear shoes, and later in life she could be the target of bullies. Thanks to the skilled hands of a multi-disciplinary surgical team including the visiting Australian team, Papua New Guinea surgeons Dr Jackson Nuli and Dr Kaycee Amoko from Port Moresby General Hospital, and the local Wewak team, Nachain now has improved mobility.

Frieda River Project Director Phil McCormack said that Frieda River Limited is committed to sustainable and responsible development and supporting Sepik communities.

“Whether it’s providing helicopter and fixed-wing medivacs or offering support during natural disasters, we want the people of the Sepik to know we are here for them and will continue to be a good neighbour,” Mr McCormack said.

“We know that people in remote communities such as the East Sepik have limited access to healthcare and may not have the means to pay for consultations let alone surgeries. This partnership with Interplast is designed to address this critical healthcare gap, providing life-changing surgeries that can significantly enhance the quality of life for individuals and their families.”

“This is our way of meaningfully giving back to the community. By providing free surgeries and training local medical staff, we aim to leave a legacy of improved healthcare in Sepik Provinces that will benefit generations to come.”

Plans are already underway for future Interplast visits to Papua New Guinea. Interplast and PanAust are working closely with local community leaders and organisations to identify patients in need, and to ensure the program is accessible to those in the community who need it most.

Dr Jackson Nuli, Head of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Port Moresby General Hospital, praised the efforts of the visiting team of medical professionals and reflected on his own experience.

“This program was such a great opportunity for me and for my registrar Dr Amoko to build our reconstructive surgical skills. The patients who received surgery this visit have had significant improvements in their function,” he said. “Thank you to Interplast and the team for making this happen.’’

Interplast’s Director of International Programs Jess Hill said, “The Interplast team was so pleased to be able to return to Wewak after several years thanks to the funding and logistical support from PanAust, and to the terrific support of our local clinical partners in Papua New Guinea.”

“We look forward to continuing to deliver this important work in Papua New Guinea, and in doing so, building the capacity of the excellent Papua New Guinea clinicians to deliver these services independently,” Ms Hill said.