PREPARATIONS UNDERWAY FOR OPERATION OPEN HEART

Preparations are underway for the annual Operation Open Heart.

The Port Moresby General Hospital was a hive of activity yesterday as equipment were unloaded and moved to the Operating Theatre.

Head of the event, Doctor Nakapi Tefuarani, says Operation Open Heart will start on August 4th and end on August 16th.

Dr Tefuarani says 45 patients mostly children will undergo open heart surgery.

Currently the closed heart operation is underway involving 30 patients.

The Operation Open Heart team from Australia arrives in Port Moresby at the end of this week.

Dr Cornelia Kilalang, who has been involved with the event for many years, says the number of patients is slightly lower than the usual number, which is just under 70 patients.