Global Gynecologic Oncology Fellowship Fiji

Colonial War Memorial Hospital

Fiji is a conglomerate of islands, which is part of Melanesia in the Pacific, with a population of 905,000. Melanesia has one of highest incidence of cervical cancer at 33.3/100,000 females and a mortality of 20.7/100000 females. In Fiji only 20% of women presents at an early stage despite having a cervical screening program.

CWM Hospital is a public hospital at the heart of Suva – the capital city and caters to over 500 hospital beds. Its maternity unit holds 184-bed capacity for both Obstetrics & Gynecology services. CWM Hospital has an oncology unit led by a medical oncologist. Radiation service is not provided in Fiji and those needing radiation treatment are referred overseas.

Fellow

Dr. Unaisi S. Tabua

A consultant in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Colonial War Memorial Hospital in Suva, Fiji, Dr. Tabua has 14 years of experience, specializing in gynecologic oncology. After completing a Master’s in Medicine (Obstetrics and Gynecology) in 2015, training across Fiji’s three divisional hospitals, and a two-year overseas attachment in New Zealand, she returned as a specialist in 2018.

International Mentors

Dr. Orla McNally

A/Prof Orla McNally is the Director of the Oncology and Dysplasia Unit at the Royal Women’s Hospital, Melbourne, Director of the Gynaecology Tumour Stream, Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre and Associate Clinical Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Melbourne. She is a consultant gynaecological oncologist at Royal Women’s Hospital (RWH) and Peter McCallum Cancer Centre (PMCC) . In these roles Orla McNally is lead for the gynae-oncology multidisciplinary team at RWH with responsibility for over 300 new gynaecological cancers and over 1000 new referrals per year. Over 15 years Orla McNally has overseen the training of numerous national and international fellows in gynaecological cancer as well as general obstretic and gynaecology trainees.

Orla McNally has fellowships in general surgery (University of Ireland), fellowships in obstetrics and gynaecology (Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Royal Australia and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists) and the Certificate in Gynaecological Oncology (RANZCOG).

Orla McNally believes passionately that specialist training and multidisciplinary care has made the biggest impact in cancer care in recent decades alongside the recognition fo the importance of research and clinical trial engagement of specialist teams and patients.

Dr. Peter Sykes

Dr. Peter Sykes is a gynaecological oncologist based in Christchurch in the South Island of New Zealand.

As a clinician he provides tertiary referral services for people of the South Island of New Zealand. As an associate professor of the university of Otago undertakes undergraduate and postgraduate training and Research. He has a specific interest in the equitable prevention of cervical cancer. His undergraduate qualification in from Bristol in the UK and he completed subspecialty training in Melbourne Australia in 1997. He has had engagement with Fiji since that time and feels privileged to be a mentor.

Dr. Ai Ling Tan

Dr. Ai Ling Tan is a gynaecological oncologist based in New Zealand and a founding trustee of the New Zealand Gynaecological Foundation. A passionate advocate for gynaecological cancer awareness and prevention, she is dedicated to improving women’s health through education, early detection, and access to quality care.

Committed to global health, Ai Ling actively collaborates with specialists in developing regions to enhance surgical expertise and strengthen cervical cancer prevention and treatment. 

“It is a privilege to be part of this program. I believe that upskilling a local expert who can manage the entire patient journey and advocate for women is the only sustainable solution. Dr. Sikiti is already a catalyst for change—engaging policymakers, building local networks, and improving care for women with gynaecological cancers across Fiji and the Pacific. The support from IGCS has been invaluable.”

Beyond her clinical and advocacy work, Ai Ling serves on the board of the Asia-Oceania Research Organisation in Genital Infections and Neoplasia (AOGIN) and is an active member of the Gynaecological Oncology Committee of the Asia and Oceania Federation of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (AOFOG).