On a recent mission to Tonga, Dr. Tom Gentles, former Service Clinical Director at Starship Hospital, and Hannah Hartsig, a Cardiac Sonographer from Starship, worked alongside dedicated Tongan Dr George 'Aho, Head of Paediatrics, and his team in Tongatapu and the Vava‘u islands. Dr Gentles' work was not just about consultations – it was about empowering local staff, strengthening healthcare systems, and bringing renewed hope to families facing uncertainty.
“We saw approximately 60 infants and children in Tongatapu and Vava’u, and we worked alongside paediatricians, registrars, interns, and nursing staff,” said Dr. Gentles.
“It was uplifting to reconnect with hospital staff, witness advancements in skills and systems since our last visit, and see children who have undergone surgery thriving.”
While progress is being made, there are still cases that require specialist intervention beyond what local healthcare providers can offer.
One such case was Otinili Moala, a young boy from a remote island in Vava'u, diagnosed with a congenital heart defect at birth. His journey took a transformative turn during Dr. Gentles’ deployment to Tonga.
Otenili, accompanied by his mother, Vika, undertook the arduous journey from their home in Ovaka, in the Vava’u group, with a population of just 96. The island is accessible only by boat, making travel to the mainland a challenging endeavour. Upon landing in Vava'u and meeting Dr. Gentles, they received their diagnosis: Otinili required specialist surgical intervention in New Zealand.
Through the Overseas Referral Scheme, a key component of NZMTS, Otinili and his mother travelled to New Zealand, where he received life-saving surgery.
For Vika, the experience was daunting.
“I was fearful. This was my first time leaving Tonga, and I had no close ties to anyone in New Zealand who could support me. And, of course, I was so worried about the outcome for my child.”
Vika and her husband, who work tirelessly on their plantation in Ovaka while raising five other children, faced immense challenges. The thought of being far from home was overwhelming, but the support they received made all the difference.
“We are so grateful to the doctors and nurses. As well as PMA staff, some of them were Tongans. Hearing and seeing our own people made a difference to our experience. When I saw my son lying there after surgery, with so many lines and machines attached, I almost collapsed. If not for my faith and the prayers of everyone back home, I don’t know how I would have found the strength to be there for him.”
Today, Otinili is thriving – full of energy, laughter, and life.
“He’s a happy, energetic child, just like any other child his age. Our family back home is overjoyed that he had this opportunity, and the outcome has truly been an answer to our prayers. We cannot thank PMA enough and the help of New Zealand for this life-changing support.”
Beyond addressing urgent medical cases, this mission reflects PMA’s broader vision – to support lasting, sustainable improvement in Pacific healthcare.
“For many years, we treated babies and children from the Pacific Islands in Auckland without much direct contact with medical staff in the islands. This made decision-making challenging,” Dr. Gentles explained.
“Debbie [PMA CEO] suggested visiting clinics as a way to better understand both the benefits and challenges of providing cardiac care to children in the Pacific. The goal was to strengthen our network with Tonga’s medical staff, develop diagnostic skills, particularly in cardiac ultrasound, and identify children who would benefit from surgery or other interventions.”
PMA remains dedicated to strengthening Pacific health by fostering collaboration and meaningful partnerships through the NZMTS, with a strong focus on improving paediatric cardiac care across the region.