The Rotary Club of Whanganui North has secured over NZ$500,000 in donations and grants to upgrade medical facilities and address surgical needs in Tonga.
Orthopaedic surgeon Dr John van Dalen, a Rotary member, has been travelling to Tonga for six years, performing 12-14 surgeries per visit at Vaiola Hospital in Nuku’alofa.
With this new funding, a three-year project will focus on joint replacement surgeries, a procedure currently unavailable in Tonga due to inadequate operating theatres and high costs.
“The upgrade will help minimise the risk of infection to a level acceptable to international best practice,” van Dalen said.
Stage one, valued at NZ$503,513, will see two operating theatres fully refurbished. Upgrades include air conditioning, HEPA filters, and stainless steel wall linings for efficient sterilisation.
Indian firm Pharma Tech has begun pre-fabrication, with installation planned for February to April 2025.
The Rotary Foundation awarded a global grant of NZ$48,382, while churches and Rotary clubs across New Zealand and Australia raised significant contributions.
Stage two, starting in late 2025, will pilot joint replacement surgeries, led by van Dalen and supported by Tongan surgeon Dr Tevita Tu’ungafasi.
“The project would not be proceeding without [donor] generosity,” van Dalen added.