Hospital carries out transplants

 By SONIA KENU

THE Port Moresby General Hospital Eye clinic carried out cornea transplants on four patients last week with the help of the Sri Lanka-Papua New Guinea Friendship Foundation Incorporated (SLPNGFF). 

Chief ophthalmologist Dr Simon Melengas said yesterday such operations were rarely done because the country did not have a corneal tissue bank. 

“We carried out the transplant with the help from SLPNGFF who provided the cornea tissue from Sri Lanka,” he said. 

“I acknowledge the teamwork of specialist doctors Dr Jambi Gara and Dr Apisai Garak, who conducted the transplant and now we have a success story to tell.” 

Recipient Addie Vaso thanked the doctors from the eye clinic on behalf of the other three patients – Jerome Bukam, Helen Elias and Betty Surinam. 

“I was not able to see anything for the past 10 years but now with the transplant I am able to see clearly,” Vaso said.

“My sight had delayed my education.

“I thank the Sri Lanka Foundation for the aid and their commitment to raise funds so that many more Papua New Guineans will be able to benefit. I also want to thank the Sri Lankan Government for its help.”