Village doctor works at Ha'ateiho [1]
Saturday, June 30, 2001 - 10:00. Updated on Friday, January 29, 2016 - 17:42.
From Matangi Tonga Magazine, Vol. 16, no. 1, June 2001.
Dr Catherine Ripley from New Zealand has taken over the work of the Village Mission Clinic in Ha‘ateiho following the departure of Dr Glennis Mafi who lived in Tonga for over 17 years.
Dr Ripley is a graduate of Otago School of Medicine. She also has a Diploma of Obstetrics, and is a Fellow of the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners. Her husband Paul, who is an experienced Paediatric and Public Health nurse, will be managing the clinic. They have two young sons.
Dr Mafi said there were plans for other doctors to join Dr Ripley. “Our hope is to have two doctors working all the time as the clinic has become increasingly busy,” said.
Dr Mafi opened the Clinic in July 1984 with the aim of providing high quality primary medical care for the people of Tonga, and to also try to be aware of spiritual needs. She has returned to New Zealand to care for her elderly parents and to see her children through secondary school.