Photos by Mona Lisa Palu

Lemoto Latu (9) is accompanied by Dr Audrey Galzin in an ambulance after Sunday's medivac flight from Lifuka to Tongatapu. 19 January 2014

A  boy suffering from suspected appendicitis and another woman patient, were evacuated from Ha‘apai yesterday, Sunday, by a French armed forces aircraft.

Nine-year-old Lemoto Latu of Fotuha‘a underwent emergency surgery when appendicitis was confirmed after his arrival at Vaiola Hospital.

Another Ha‘apai patient Mrs ‘Eva Fifita was evacuated to undergo medical tests at Vaiola.

Dr Saia Piukala at Vaiola Hospital confirmed this afternoon that the boy was recovering after surgery and both patients were “doing fine.”

French mission

The Honorary French Consul in Tonga, Tupou Pasikala, said that the patients' evacuation was requested by the Tongan doctor in charge at Ha‘apai Dr Tevita Vakasiuola in consultation with a French doctor, Dr Audrey Galzin.

“The patients were treated medically during the whole evacuation process - inside the vehicle from hospital to the French Airforce and until the Medievac team arrived in Tongatapu,“ she said.

The “Evacuation Sanitaire Medicalisee” mission was conducted while the CASA was running cargo flights from Fua‘amotu Airport on Tongatapu to Lifuka in Ha‘apai. The rotation flights have carried personnel and needy people both ways, she said. 

“They are also taking 14 passengers for a funeral in Ha‘apai, and bringing back a few elderlies to be better cared for here due to the lack of water, and also children from Ha‘apai to Tongatapu, and personnel from other companies like Tonga Power Limited and Health staff,” she said

Dr. Tevita Vakasiuola briefs French military doctor, Dr Audrey Galzin under the damaged roof of Niu’ui Hospital, Pangai. 18 January 2014

Cargo transfers

The French armed forces in New Caledonia are assisting Tonga through joining forces with New Zealand and Australian relief efforts, said Tupou.

The French CASA, which can carry 4.9 tons of cargo, made three trips to Ha‘apai on Saturday, two on Sunday, and expected to make another four trips today, Monday, after more relief cargo arrived on a commercial flight from New Zealand.

The cargo has included aid relief in the form of plastic water containers, water purification tablets, tarpaulins, tools, gloves, plywood, poles and other construction materials from various donor agencies, and 300 tents from New Zealand.

Tupou said the CASA was flying while there was cargo to move to Ha‘apai on the request of NEMO, Tonga's National Emergency Management Office.

“They are leaving at 16h30 to go back to Noumea as there aren't anymore materials to be shipped over to Ha‘apai, NEMO office told them. So the rest of the materials are to be sent later by sea,” said Tupou.

The French airforce mission has been supported by assistance from the Congress of New Caledonia who funded the fuel for most of the rotation flights between Tongatapu and Lifuka; and also by the French Red Cross who donated tarpaulins and gardening tools consisting of spades, bush knives and gloves.

“The request for this assistance was through the French Ambassador in Suva, Mr Gilles Montagnier, and was supported by the President of the Congress of New Caledonia, Roch Wamytan,” said Tupou.