“At the end of the day I am still a doctor”.

Those were the words of Minister for Health and Medical Services Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete after he helped save the life of a stroke patient, whose name has been withheld. The man was walking along Holland Street Thursday night and fell down the hill and landed near the creek.

“I noticed a crowd of people at Holland Street, 8.30am (yesterday) and decided to step out and see what was going on,” said Dr Waqainabete.

“I did not waste any time waiting for other doctors and ran down the hill off Holland Street to assist the stroke patient myself because he was in need.

“My shoes and clothes getting dirty was the least of my worries,” he said.

Dr Waqainabete said he was travelling back to his office after attending a prayer breakfast with the Australian Prime Minister during that hour.

“He was very cold and he told us that he was there for the whole night.”

The Ministry of Health and Medical Services have been working with Police and National Fire Authority (NFA) training rescue personnel on what to do in such situations.

“Our doctors in the emergency unit have been conducting the training for days like this,” Dr Waqainabete said.

“Any other doctor at my position would have done the same. I was there during that accident and it was my duty as a doctor to help as soon as possible because at the end of the day I am still a doctor.

“I would like to thank the public for the assistance and information.”

According to Police report, after the information was received through 919, officers were deployed to attend the incident.

Edited by Susana Tuilau

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