Dr Burling reflects on the successful mission and the team's dedication.
"The three of us had a set of goals that we wanted to achieve. We worked very, very hard, and it was a great visit overall. We carried out 17 major operations and saw over 60 people at the clinics during the visits.”
"Our clinics involved seeing patients who potentially needed surgery, following up on previous cancer cases, and providing guidance to the local team. We saw that Dr. Simi Lolohea (Tongan Colorectal Surgeon based in Hamilton) was in Tonga performing laparoscopic bowel surgery, which gave us the opportunity to teach the local team about laparoscopy and gynaecology.”
Dr Burling also serves as the chair for PAGO, an organisation of Australian and New Zealand-based gynaecology oncologists committed to enhancing local healthcare services and training in the Pacific since 2010. This aligns with NZMTS priorities in capacity-building and strengthening of local health services through training and development. He explains the teams shared motivation behind these regional visits.
“The work is tiring, but it’s also incredibly rewarding. We did our last ward round on Saturday morning before catching our flight that evening. By then, we had discharged almost everyone from that week except for a few patients recovering from minor complications. The three of us looked at each other and realised how resilient and thankful these local women were. Moments like that make you forget how difficult it was.
“We’ve had five visits to Fiji, two to Tonga, one to Vanuatu, and one to the Solomon Islands. It’s been a great year in terms of mentoring and surgical training. We’re still looking ahead at how we can do more to support and train Pacific gynaecologists in surgery. But the ultimate goal isn’t just to do surgery—it’s to ensure that island doctors have the solid surgical skills they need.”
The specialist team’s deployment to Tonga also precedes New Zealand’s Gynaecological Cancer Awareness Month, highlighting the urgent issue of Pacific women facing disproportionately higher rates of the disease. Dr Burling stresses the importance of addressing these disparities.
"The World Health Organization has laid out clear goals to eliminate cervical cancer. The situation in New Zealand highlights the disproportionately high rates of cancer among Pacific women, where rates have risen exponentially compared to slight increases in other nationalities. This is multifactorial, with many contributing factors. The obesity epidemic is probably the biggest issue. How do we, as a health system, address the root causes of these problems? Collaboration is essential because we can’t fix these issues in isolation."
Through ongoing efforts, PMA remains committed to working with champions like PAGO in improving women’s health in the Pacific. Dr Burling concluded with a personal reflection on the significance of their work.
“I’m passionate about women’s health because women are the cornerstone of Pacific society. Through these trips, we aim to make a lasting difference—not just for the women we treat directly, but for the entire healthcare system, ensuring all women have access to safe, reliable care.”
