ReSurge International Blog

World Health Assembly and Global Surgery

Today marks the beginning of the 66th World Health Assembly (WHA). Attended by delegations from all World Health Organization member states, the WHA is charged with determining the policies of the organization and, in essence, guiding global health priorities and recommendations.

In light of this meeting, ReSuge and Samahope have come together to bring you information throughout the week about the need to include surgical care in global health priorities.

Today, two billion people worldwide have no basic access to surgical care. It is estimated that 234 million surgeries are done worldwide per year—3.5 percent of those are done in low-income countries.*

Bringing surgical care into the global health agenda can help save countless lives and prevent unnecessary life-long disabilities in some of the poorest regions of the world.  Learn more about global surgical needs by following our blog or using #GlobalSurgery on Twitter to join the conversation.

*http://swasthyamundial.com/2013/04/is-surgery-a-luxury-item-in-global-health/

Magali

Zane Williams, ReSurge volunteer photographer.

La Paz, Bolivia – Magali's original accident took place when she was two years old. Her mother was preparing caramelo (cooked sugar) and placed the bowl outside in the yard. Shortly after, Magali's mother heard her screaming. Magali had placed her hand in the bowl, severely burning her hand.   

At the time of her accident, Magali received surgery at the local hospital, but three years later, she further injured the hand when playing and falling on it. Doctors told her that she would require another surgery, but she was unable to receive it because of her family’s financial situation.

Magali is in her fifth year at Ururo Technical University studying medicine. Because of her background, she wants to go into the medical field to help other poor women. She hopes to be able to treat her patients as well as she was treated by ReSurge.

Photo by Zane Williams.

Fundraising Success

On March 7, ReSurge held a fundraiser with specialty clothing store, Wilkes Bashford, in Palo Alto. During the event, ReSurge screened a video about its work, followed by a Q&A session with ReSurge President and CEO, Susan Hayes.

The response was overwhelming, allowing ReSurge to raised $6,500 to support its programs.

We’d like to thank Wilkes Bashford for their generosity and hospitality, as well as newly elected ReSurge board member, Sara Hirsch, for helping organize this event.

Photo: Copyright 2012, Gamma Nine

Compassion in a Time of Crisis

The horrific event that took place Monday at the Boston Marathon has left us with a heavy heart. It is difficult to comprehend such a senseless act of violence. Yet, amongst the chaos and pain, there is another human trait that shines through these difficult times—compassion. 

When violence strikes, there are often men and women who run toward the place of danger to help injured men, women and children. Many of them are healthcare providers, but others are simply moved by the instinctual urge to reach out and help those in need around them. Because of their heroism, lives are saved and families are reunited.

So, as the news of this devastating event unfold on our morning newspapers and our evening news, we’d like to draw attention to the inspiring truth that makes our work and the work of millions of healthcare providers around the world possible everyday—compassion lives in all of us and thrives in the face of adversity.

Our thoughts are with everyone in Boston and our gratitude and admiration goes out to those who rush to help those in need. 

Teaching in Quy Nhon

Quy Nhon,Vietnam – Libby Hart, ReSurge associate director of annual giving.

A group of nursing students joined our medical team on rounds. Through our team’s translator, Emma Phan (pictured in the blue hat), the students asked questions of the medical team about two patients in recovery.

ReSurge medical team trips encourage local medical students and professionals alike to participate and learn whenever possible and Quy Nhon is no exception. From the operating room to rounds on the pediatric ward, the local personnel have been eager to learn as much as possible.

A Successful ReThink Burns Photo Challenge Campaign

Two months ago, we reached out and asked you to challenge the way the world thinks about burn injuries in developing countries, in an effort to raise awareness about the effects of burns on some of the most vulnerable populations of the world. To do this, we invited you to take a photo holding a ReThink Burns sign and to submit it on our Facebook page. More than 800 people took on this challenge and joined our movement!

ReSurge was overwhelmed by your response to our call. We received photos from more than 15 countries around the world. We couldn’t be more thankful for your support.

Your collective voices help bring attention to this neglected global health crisis and help further our commitment to securing a safer world in which no one suffers a disabling burn injury just because they are poor.

Thanks to the generous support of two donors, this campaign also secured a $5 donation per photo. Your efforts helped us raise more than $4,000 for burn care!

On behalf of ReSurge and our patients around the world—thank you!

A Happy Ending

Libby Hart, ReSurge associate director of annual giving.

Quy Nhon,Vietnam -- The whole team fell in love today, myself included, with a little girl named Thi Ngol Quyen. Three-month-old Thi weighs 10 pounds and captured everyone’s heart with her sweet disposition.

After speaking with Thi's mother through the interpreter, I was even more touched to learn her family's story. Thi's mother has three children, all of which needed surgery. The family heard about ReSurge when a local volunteer traveled to their small mountain village to recruit patients. In total, seven children came to us from that village and were evaluated by ReSurge as candidates for surgery. All of the families traveled a full day to arrive to Quy Nhon. 

Thi's mother told me that in their village there are just a few kids with cleft lips and palates. They often get made fun of in school and in fact, her eldest child has stopped going to school, because he was being teased because his sibling had a cleft. 

While telling her story, Thi's mom started crying because she was so happy. She said that until the volunteer told her that ReSurge was able to help her children through surgery, she never knew that surgery existed and was resigned to the fact that her children would look different forever. 

Each of our team members took turns speaking with the mother and enjoyed being part of this happy ending. 

Walk for Kids

On April 7, Barco’s Nightingales Foundation held its annual “Walk for Kids” event in Los Angeles, California. Hundreds of people participated in the walk to raise funds for children’s medical needs, including funds to cover 200 surgeries for ReSurge’s patients.

Sara Anderson, ReSurge chief communications officer (pictured left), and Erika Dowd, ReSurge director of development (pictured right), attended the event to represent ReSurge and support the Barco’s community.

“The walk was a wonderful opportunity to spend a Saturday morning supporting something we are all deeply committed to—improving the health of children around the world. We were thrilled to have the opportunity to participate in this wonderful event,” said Anderson.

Barco’s Nightingales Foundation not only organized the event but matched 100 percent of every donation made by its participants. Since its inception, the foundation has been dedicated to supporting philanthropic efforts that help mend the lives of children and their families. Now, thanks to this event, 200 of ReSurge’s patients will receive the surgeries they so desperately need. ReSurge is grateful to all the walk participants and to Barco’s for their partnership and ongoing support. 

Kim Huy

Libby Hart, ReSurge associate director of annual giving.

Quy Nhon,Vietnam -- Kim Huy makes her living as a seamstress to support her family. She suffered a devastating burn injury when she was just 11 years old. Since then, she has undergone eight operations.

Kim Huy's strength of character was apparent when she came to be operated on today for two procedures. We explained ReSurge's Rethink Burns photo campaign and its mission to raise awareness for burn injuries around the globe. Kim Huy had her photo taken for the campaign in order to help!

World Health Worker Week

Health care workers are the first and often the only link to health care for millions of people living in the developing world. This week we celebrate World Health Worker Week and draw attention to their contributions while thanking them for making a difference around the world. Throughout the week, we’ll be bringing you stories of health workers who inspire us and help us reach those who need our services the most.

We hope you’ll join us in thanking health workers and help us raise awareness about the value of their contributions.

Congressional Global Health Caucus Briefing on Burns

Last week, the Congressional Global Health Caucus, with ReSurge and International Medical Corps, held the first briefing on the neglected global health crisis of burns in the developing world. The briefing created a unique opportunity to draw greater attention to the issue of burns.

The Congressional Global Health Caucus is chaired by U.S. Reps. Betty McCollum of Minnesota and Dave Reichart of Washington.  ReSurge and International Medical Corps are thankful for their leadership in bringing this hidden issue forward.  

Nearly 11 million people worldwide are burned severely enough to require medical attention annually, according to the World Health Organization’s estimate of 2004.  Almost all of them (95 percent) live in developing countries. 

Ambassador Jimmy Kolker, principal deputy assistant secretary for global affairs, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services moderated the event.  

An impressive group of speakers gathered and enriched the room with their diverse perspectives on the topic. Panelists included: Dr. Pirko Maguina, ReSurge volunteer and reconstructive and plastic surgeon for Shriners' Hospitals for Children Northern California;  Dr. Sumi Mehta, director of programs for the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves; Dr. Michael Peck, American Burn Association board of trustees and associate director of Arizona Burn Center; Conrad Person, director of corporate contributions for Johnson & Johnson; and Dr. Kathleen West of the USC Department of Preventive Medicine and senior advisor of the First Ladies Initiative.

Congresswoman Betty McCollum's office thanked ReSurge and the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves for their work to help women and children worldwide.

“The Congressional Global Health Caucus briefing moved the issue of burns more into the spotlight. It served as a building block toward more attention and political will and resources to save lives and restore hope,” said Sara Anderson, ReSurge chief communications and advocacy officer.  "We are very grateful to our wonderful panel, guests and especially members of the Congressional Global Health Caucus."

A Trip Begins With Saying "Yes"

Libby Hart, ReSurge associate director of annual giving.

A team trip with ReSurge begins long before arriving at the airport. As a staff member in the fundraising department, I have always known the months of decisions and coordination it takes to pull off a trip, but never did this resonate more than when it was preparation for the trip I am about to embark on. The staff begins working on a trip by coordinating schedules and staffing the perfect combination of surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses, a pediatrician, coordinator translators--and then me, the lay staff member. I will perform the role of documentarian/ clinical photographer/ journalist / professional gopher.

For the volunteer team members the trip begins with saying “yes.” “Yes” to taking time off. Real life does not stop just because you are leaving, which has never been more apparent than the sacrifice of our head nurse, Lisa Shebell, who is flying on her birthday. Team members say “Yes” to travel shots (I had six). “Yes” to visa applications and passport photos. “Yes” to saying goodbye to family and friends and the comforts of home.

And all of this culminates at the airport where we meet for the first time, among a sea of 28 boxes of medical supplies to embark on a journey to help patients we have never met in a country halfway around the world. All because the staff and team together decided yes we can make a difference: one child, one surgery at a time.

(Libby Hart, pictured far right, at the San Francisco Airport on her way to Quy Nhon, Vietnam with ReSurge’s volunteer medical team.)

Feeding Dara

Jessica Brooks, ReSurge volunteer clinical dietitian.

Managua, Nicaragua—In clinic today we met Dara, a two-month-old cleft lip and palate baby whose mom was very concerned that she wasn’t gaining enough weight. Dara had been having diarrhea for a week, which her mother attributed to the recent heat wave. Apparently this is an old wives’ tale in Nicaragua—they think that heat will cause their children to have diarrhea. The best I can figure is that when the children have diarrhea, if it’s particularly hot outside they can easily become dehydrated, which only exacerbates the problem. Geovanni, the nutritionist for the unit, explained that the heat is likely not what is causing the diarrhea and advised Dara’s mother to inform the physicians of her daughter’s diarrhea.

Another obvious problem that Dara had been having was her inability to latch on to the nipple of her bottle. I observed Mom literally squirting formula into Dara’s mouth, and Dara was having none of it. It took us a few minutes to deduce that Mom had only been inserting Dara’s acrylic mouthpiece just prior to meal times, when she was supposed to be wearing it during all waking hours. Geovanni reinforced the importance of Dara being comfortable with wearing the mouthpiece consistently so her sucking reflex could improve.

Luckily, Dara is in the 50th percentile in weight for her age, so she is not behind in her growth, but it’s still good that we were able to correct this problem early on. 

Ana Jackeline

Dr. Elsie Tafur Chang, ReSurge partner orthodontist.   

Managua, Nicaragua—It is amazing to see how despite undergoing numerous surgical procedures and treatments, many of these children maintain a great attitude and disposition.

That is the case of this beautiful 14-year-old, Ana Jackeline (pictured above right). Ana has been in treatment at the orthodontic clinic for a few years and has undergone numerous surgeries. Recently, the dental and surgery teams decided that she would need orthodontic surgery when she is finished growing. For now, she will continue her orthodontic treatment until she’s ready for the surgery.

Having a dental approach to cleft lip and palate treatment is a great advantage because it leads to a better outcome for the patient.

Marcelo

 

Dr. Elsie Tafur Chang, ReSurge partner orthodontist.   

Managua, Nicaragua -- We’ve been in Nicaragua for four days and so far it’s been a great experience.  The people are great, APROQUEN is doing wonderful work and they are developing a great clinic to treat cleft lip and palate patients. 

Today we met three-month-old Marcelo (pictured above); he is the cutest baby ever! Marcelo has a great personality, he even laughed when they were taking his impression for a new appliance (most babies cry at this point). He has a bilateral cleft lip and palate and is getting ready for his cleft lip surgery. They prepare him before surgery with intraoral appliance so that the surgery can have a better outcome.

Cleft Lip and Palate Clinic

 

Jessica Brooks, ReSurge volunteer clinical dietitian.

Managua, Nicaragua -- Today, Geovanni and I saw three patients: two follow-ups and one initial assessment. Geovanni monitors the weight and measures the length and circumference of the head and triceps of each child to ensure that they’re growing properly in preparation for corrective surgery. This morning I had the opportunity to meet these two little cuties above, Jareth and Ingrid.

The crazy thing about these babies is how even tempered they are. You can lay them out on a table, wrap a tape measure around their heads and pick them up and they just stare up at you and smile. 

The cleft lip and palate clinic was the perfect opportunity for Geovanni and I to discuss growth charts again. We decided to make copies of the growth charts to place in the patients’ files and to plot their progress each month. This way, Geovanni, the physicians and the parents can see how the child is progressing. Geovanni communicates very well with the parents and this will be another useful tool in helping them feel involved in their child’s progress.