During the second quarter of the year, Surg For All received an unusual request. The doctor Juan Carlos Valladares, pediatric surgeon at the Virgen de las Nieves Hospital in Granada, contacted us to request financial assistance for a special mission.
Dr. Valladares, who performs pediatric surgery missions in the St. Joseph Catholic Hospital from Monrovia, without the support of any organization, asked us for help. Most hospitals in Africa, like St. Joseph's, lack the financial resources to cover surgical procedures for disadvantaged patients. This shortage, already serious in adults, becomes heartbreaking when it comes to children.
Faced with this situation, Dr. Valladares requested our assistance to cover the cost of surgeries for children whose families could not afford them. In response to his request, a special partnership was organized with two other organizations: Eyes of the South, an NGO, and the Juan Ciudad Foundation, with whom we already work on various activities at the hospital. Each of the three organizations contributed 1,500 euros, which allowed Dr. Valladares to perform the necessary surgeries.
A Joint Effort to Change Lives
The mission took place in August, coordinated by Dr. Marlon, a pediatrician at St. Joseph's, who was responsible for patient selection during the first week of the month. The surgeries were performed between August 14 and 16, benefiting a total of 19 boys and girls, who were subjected to 23 surgical interventions.
Among the patients, the youngest was only 16 months old, while the oldest was 15 years old. The children's ages varied, with 6 of them under three years old, 4 between three and six years old, and 9 between six and 15 years old. The operations mainly included the repair of hernias of various types and some interventions by testicular torsion.
Results That Transform Lives
Thanks to the collaboration of these three organizations, 19 families in Monrovia Today, they can breathe a sigh of relief, knowing their children have received the medical treatment they so desperately needed. What began as an unusual request has become a collaborative effort that has made a difference in the lives of these children and their families.
In Surg For AllAlthough our core business focuses on training and providing medical resources, this experience demonstrates the power of cooperation to achieve extraordinary goals. We remain committed to bringing hope and health to those most in need, and this mission in Monrovia has been a testament to the impact we can achieve together.
