We toured the NICU. It is very small. With up to 10 newborns in the NICU at a time, there can barely be room for the newborns, incubators, doctors, nurses, moms, and other equipment.
Vaiola Hospital really is in need of more space for the NICU, but remodel and expansion is far more than our budget.
In looking for a way to help, we visited
with Dr George Aho, head of pediatrics. We learned that the hospital has 2 very
old ventilators (pictured right), both adult size. They are so old they cannot even get parts
for these machines any longer. The staff try to make these ventilators work for
the babies, but this is for from ideal (improper fit and adult diseases can be
introduced into the newborns). Often the babies must be transported to the
adult ICU for ventilator treatment.
These adult ventilators help but it would be so much better to have neonatal-sized
ventilators for the babies.
About 10% of all babies have respiratory problems
and require oxygen. Premature births are on the rise in Tonga, and these little
ones require oxygen.
We decided we wanted to try to find a way to fund 2 newborn ventilators for Tonga. Semisi researched costs for ventilators and providers. He wrote up a project with all the required information and costing. Selesia Fifita, head anesthesiologist wrote “There is an urgent need as we struggle to keep our critically ill babies alive.”
Elder and Sister Bills, our supervisors in
New Zealand, visited Tonga the first week of February 2018. We took them to
tour the NICU and to meet Semisi and Dr Aho. The Bills have a granddaughter who
was premature and needed ventilator treatment so they understand the great
needs of premature infants and have a soft heart for them, as do we as we have had two grandchildren who required ventilators. We told
Elder Bills the estimated costings, which was high. He said there are ways to
get these things passed and suggested we submit a project.
We gathered all the required
costings, letters from physicians and priesthood. Pictures were taken of the
NICU and the tiny newborns who can be helped/saved with ventilators. The $120,000
NZ far exceeds our limit for normal projects. It had to be approved first by
the area presidency in New Zealand, then sent on to Salt Lake for approval.
Months later, we had the answer. Breath of Life was approved!
We worked with a team in SLC to be sure we purchased the best ventilators and had thought of all needs for the NICU. Two
ventilators were purchased from GE, a company in New Zealand. We were hopeful
they would get to Tonga before we completed our mission; they arrived in
Tonga Friday, June 7. Silongo Samani, our country welfare manager, was able to
work with customs and expedite delivery of the ventilators to Vaiola Hospital
Monday, June 10. The
vendor sent a specialist to train the medical staff for a
whole week on the equipment. GE also sent a third ventilator as a
donation to the Kingdom of Tonga. As a plus, this new equipment is able
to treat premature
babies all the way up to adults with various attachments and settings on
the machines.
Elder Tukuafu, Area Seventy, and Dr. Siale ‘Akau’ola, CEO, cut the ribbon at handover ceremony. At the handover, we learned Tonga has never had a NEW ventilator.
 |
| Dr 'Akau'ola, Elder Thomson, Dr George Aho, Sister Thomson, Elder Tukuafu |
What a blessing for the Kingdom of Tonga to
have these ventilators. They will save lives of many premature babies and
newborns with breathing difficulties, as well as critically ill adults. This
has been a very rewarding project to be involved in. We are happy the
ventilators arrived before we go home June 21.
And
the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his
nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. Genesis 2:7
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.