First babies get surgery

TWO babies with liver cancer underwent paediatric surgery this week at the Port Moresby General Hospital for the first time in Papua New Guinea.
The surgeries were made possible by two visiting surgeons – Prof Michael Cooper and Prof Albert Shun from Westmead Children’s Hospital in Sydney, Australia.
Cooper is a paediatric surgeon and anaesthetist and Shun is a paediatric liver transplant surgeon. Southern region deputy chief surgeon Dr Hoxson Poki said the surgeries on the two babies were successfully carried out and both were recovering.
Poki said the hospital was fortunate to have the services of the surgeons.
“This is a message to PNG,” he said.
“I want people right around the country to know that we have these services that can be provided in our hospital.”
“The New Guinea Islands, Southern and Highlands have paediatric surgeons.
“Our people should not think that cases like these cannot be treated.”
Poki said there were cases in the rural areas that could be treated but if the cases were complex and could not be treated by local doctors then overseas experts would be sought.
Cooper said half of the country’s population was under 15 years and being a growing population, children needed to be well looked and their health needs met in order to have a good future.
“For any country, the future rests with the children and it is often said the child you fix today may one day become the leader of the country.” Cooper said.