Foyok, 15, is from Ok Isai village, was struck by falling tree when she was just four years old, resulting in nerve damage and palsy in her right hand. Naturally, her quality of life was impacted.
PanAust, along with partners Interplast Australia and New Zealand and the Children First Foundation, decided to do something about it. Foyok's case was identified in November 2016 when an Interplast team visited the Frieda River project site.
"With assistance from the Children First Foundation, Foyok received specialist surgery in Australia in September 2018, with Interplast volunteer surgeon Dr Scott Ferris and his team at St Vincent's Hospital, and her hand function has improved," PanAust said.
"She'll continue undergoing rehabilitation with the Foundation before returning to Papua New Guinea in 2019."
