Six children discharged after life-saving heart surgeries; hospital receives medical equipment donation

Six children have been given a new lease on life after undergoing open-heart surgeries at the Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Children’s Hospital in Suva.

The children are 1-year-old Maraia Koroi, 6-year-old Luisa Dirika, 1-year-old Adi Bale Baleidrokadroka, 1-year-old Mereia Dovimoala, the 4-month-old baby of Verenaisi Toga, 1-year-old Aleena Muhzeeb, and 8-year-old Sairusi Nakairaci.

Marica Dovimoala says her daughter Mereia Dovimoala was diagnosed at birth with three complex heart defects and has already undergone two life-saving surgeries — free of charge — thanks to the hospital’s local and international medical teams.

She says the hospital’s compassionate care and skilled surgeons, many of whom volunteer from overseas, have made it possible for children like hers to receive treatment close to home.

The mother described the service as a blessing, adding that the support helped ease the stress of waiting for surgery.

Families, medical staff, and donors gathered to celebrate the children’s recoveries and to share hope for many more young lives.

Meanwhile, the hospital acknowledged a donation of medical equipment by RB Patel Group Ltd and the Rotary Club of Suva, noting that it has significantly strengthened pediatric cardiac care.

Hospital Director, Dr. Krupali Tappoo says the hospital is making a profound difference in the Pacific by providing free heart surgeries to children from nine countries, including Fiji, Tonga, Papua New Guinea, and Samoa.

She adds that since its opening in April 2022, the hospital has successfully completed more than 400 complex surgeries, saving the lives of babies as young as one week old and weighing as little as 1.9 kilograms.

Looking ahead, the hospital is fundraising for a new cardiac catheterization lab, expected to open in April 2026, which will provide less invasive treatment options for children.

She further says that the hospital also operates a free heart screening centre for early detection and is encouraging parents across the Pacific to bring their children for simple, life-saving checks.

Dr. Tappoo adds that this mission offers more than medical care — it restores hope and transforms futures, proving that when communities come together, lives can truly be saved.