Changing lives in Fiji

Everyday life for the average Fijian family however is very different, with as many as a third of Fijians living in poverty. Despite Fiji being one of the more developed countries in the Pacific, health services are under-developed and cardiac surgery is unavailable.

Lying northeast of New Zealand, Fiji is a vast archipelago of more than 330 islands, of which only one third are inhabited. Most of the 900,000 population live on the coast of the main island Viti Levu, either in the capital Suva or in smaller city centres.

Open Heart International first visited Fiji in 1990. Since then we have made more than 25 surgical visits and performed over 800 life-changing operations.

Every year we send a large team of over 40 medical volunteers to Fiji. The team arrive at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital in Suva for two weeks of intensive, rewarding work.

Working collaboratively with the local doctors and nurses, the team perform life-changing surgery for over 30 Fijians with every visit. Many patients are children suffering from congenital heart defects, as well as adults with complications from rheumatic heart disease.

Multiple operating theatres run simultaneously, but despite the intense workload, many are still left waiting for surgery. Even in challenging working conditions, safety is always paramount, and we consistently achieve world-class surgical outcomes.

Clinical education and training are also an essential part of our contribution. Our team give formal lectures and informal on-the-job training to the local medical team. This skill exchange is seen as an important way to improve health outcomes long after we have left.

Our work in Fiji aims to give the local people access to life-saving surgery and reduce the heartache of chronic illness and early death. With your support, we can continue to help the people of Fiji lead long and healthy lives.