22/10/2026
An honour to be part of such meaningful work ❤️
Fiji Sun - 22/10/2026
𝗔𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗞𝗶𝘄𝗶 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗨𝗽 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗰 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗙𝗶𝗷𝗶
𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗚 𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗧𝗦
The Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Heart Hospital Fiji continues to be a beacon of hope for children across Fiji and the Pacific, bringing world-class cardiac care within reach of families who need it most. A visiting team of specialists from New Zealand and Australia is currently at the Hospital, performing life-saving heart surgeries, with all life-saving surgeries provided absolutely free of charge.
The mission is led by the Pasifika Medical Association (PMA) Group through the New Zealand Medical Treatment Scheme (NZMTS) in collaboration with New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) and the Hearts4Kids Foundation. The visiting team is supported by the dedicated staff of Sai Sanjeevani Heart Hospital, the Fiji Ministry of Health team from CWM Hospital and visiting nurses from Labasa Hospital.
Dr Krupali Tappoo, Director and CEO of Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Heart Hospital Fiji, said that every child deserves a healthy childhood and that no child should be denied the opportunity to live a healthy life because of the cost or inaccessibility of specialised medical care.
“Families across Fiji and the Pacific face significant challenges in accessing specialised cardiac services, and for many, travelling to New Zealand or Australia for treatment is simply not financially possible.
𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱-𝗰𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗰 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻
This is where Sai Sanjeevani Heart Hospital plays such a vital role. By bringing world-class cardiac care to our region and providing it entirely free of charge, we are giving children the opportunity to live healthier, fuller lives without placing a financial burden on their families,” said Dr Tappoo.
She expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the international medical teams and partner organisations whose commitment and generosity make these life-saving missions possible.
“I would like to extend my sincere thanks to the Pasifika Medical Association, the New Zealand Medical Treatment Scheme, New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Hearts4Kids Foundation for their invaluable partnership in this mission. Through their collective efforts, more children will receive the life-saving care they need and the opportunity for a brighter future. We are especially grateful to the outstanding medical team led by renowned paediatric cardiac surgeon Dr Kirsten Finucane for their dedication and service to the children of Fiji and the Pacific,” added Dr Tappoo.
Dr Kirsten Finucane expressed her pleasure in returning to Fiji to lead another medical mission at Sai Sanjeevani Heart Hospital.
“It is a pleasure for our team to be back in Fiji and to work at the world-class Sai Sanjeevani Heart Hospital. This mission reflects what can be achieved when organisations, medical professionals and communities come together with a shared purpose. Through this collaborative effort, we can not only help heal young hearts but also strengthen clinical capabilities and build vital medical capacity across the Pacific region,” said Dr Finucane.
The Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Heart Hospital remains steadfast in its commitment to providing free, world-class cardiac care to the people of Fiji and the Pacific. To date, the Hospital has delivered 553 life-saving heart surgeries and procedures, conducted 59,855 free heart screenings, and provided 142,906 free general and specialist medical consultations, reaffirming its mission to ensure that access to quality healthcare is never determined by a family’s ability to pay.
