Help us Fund 25 Joint Replacements in Tonga for 2027!

Help us fund 25 hip and knee replacements in Tonga in 2027!

This week, a team of New Zealand volunteers is doing Tonga's first ever hip and knee replacements at Vaiola Hospital in Nuku'alofa.

Until now, people in Tonga with worn-out hips and knees had to find the money to travel overseas for surgery, or live with the pain. For many, that means they can't walk far, work or care for their families.

This week took eight years of work and fundraising by the Rotary Clubs of Whanganui North and Nuku'alofa, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church and its Rapid Relief Team. Together we raised over US$500,000 to build three operating theatres and renovate the sterilisation department. Zimmer Biomet supplies the joints at the best possible rate.

The volunteer team is led by orthopaedic surgeon Dr John van Dalen, with anaesthetist Dr Geoff Spenser, nurses Lynette Sweetman and Lydia Sargent, and Steve Flaunty on logistics.

Now we want to keep going. Each joint replacement costs about NZ$8,000, around a quarter of the private price in New Zealand. Our goal is NZ$200,000, enough for 25 joint replacements in 2027.

Every dollar goes to surgery for people who couldn't otherwise get it. Whatever you can give helps someone walk without pain again.

This page is run by the Rotary Club of Whanganui North. You can read more about the project at https://tongahospitalprojects.com

Thank you.