Nachain with her mother after her successful surgery.
Meet Nachain
In late June, the Interplast team visiting Wewak, Papua New Guinea (PNG) met 17-month-old Nachain. Born with a complex congenital condition, Nachain had extra digits on both her feet. While her condition was not life threatening, her parents worried that as she grew, her ailment would affect her ability to walk and wear shoes, and later she could become the target of bullies.
Nachain was one of many our volunteer team met on Interplast’s latest visit, made possible by funding from PanAust. Thanks to the skilled hands of the skilled local multi-disciplinary surgical team, supported by the visiting Australian team, Nachain’s polydactyly was corrected, and she can live her life with improved mobility and a brighter future.
Building on a strong foundation
During the busy plastic and reconstructive surgical program, the team provided consultations for 50 patients and undertook 17 life-changing surgical procedures, including burns reconstruction, upper limb surgery, scar revision. Our highly qualified volunteers also concurrently providing clinical training to 18 local clinicians, including surgeons, nurses and anaesthetic personnel.
Importantly, this trip provided the opportunity to continue strengthening longstanding relationships with our local partners in PNG. Continuity throughout visits ensures that each program builds upon existing trust and knowledge, to ultimately ensure delivery of outstanding patient care and optimal training results.
Dr Jackson Nuli and Dr Kirstie MacGill work alongside each other on one of 17 procedures.
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.”
The power of people
These outcomes would not be possible without the dedication of many people. The Interplast team worked closely with the local surgical unit at Boram Hospital, in particular, Dr Eri Ebos, Dr Jimmy Kambo and Sr Martha Kela, who provided local coordination in the lead up to and during the visit.
The local PanAust team also arranged for patient screening and follow up from the West Sepik province, including patients who were treated during a previous PanAust-sponsored Interplast visit to Vanimo in 2017.
Left to right: Dr Kaycee Amoko (Surgical registrar, POM GH), Jen MacKinnon (Interplast Volunteer and Nurse), Sr Bibiana Yusnis (Nurse Unit Manager, POM GH), Dr Jon Stacey (Interplast Volunteer and Anaesthestist), Dr Anna Wilkinson (Interplast Volunteer and Plastic Surgeon), Dr Kirstie MacGill (Interplast President and Plastic Surgeon), Ms Chris Hunter (Interplast Volunteer and Nurse), Dr Jackson Nuli (Plastic Surgeon, POM GEN), Phil McCormack (Frieda River Project Director, PanAust).
Acknowledgements
We extend our thanks to our incredible volunteer team and partners in Papua New Guinea, and to PanAust, for their generous support of this program and the people of the East Sepik Province.
