Cardiac team arrives for OOH

The annual Operation Open Heart (OOH) is on again at the Port Moresby General Hospital.

A team of 12, led by coordinator Dr Darren Wolfers, arrived in Port Moresby today ahead of the operation which will commence on Sunday.

The annual lifesaving cardiac operation open heart saw an advance team of four nurses arrive in the country early this week to conduct training with the local nurses.

Two children have been scheduled to go under the knife on Sunday. Operations will run through to Friday, August 3.

The program, which is now in its 26th year, will gradually see an independent cardiac surgery team, made up of locals, conduct operations by 2020.

“We hope that by 2020, we will have an independent cardiac surgery team for PNG,” says OOH International team Coordinator Dr Darren Wolfers.

He says the international team has gradually decreased over the years and will continue to decrease, with the focus on getting the local team trained.

The local team, made up of over 30 specialist nurses and doctors, conducted 12 closed heart operations last week.

15 patients have been screened for the operation. A finalized list will be made known by tomorrow.

Author: 
Sally Pokiton