Colombo, Sri Lanka 2011

Fabricating compression garments

Colombo, Sri Lanka- Rick Sieller, ReSurge visiting educator.

Yesterday was another incredibly full day. I spent the day working with the staff on patient care (primarily burned hands) and the preliminary casting of the many burned faces. The industrial sewing machine I brought in was put together by a local craftsman to free up my time. The team of seamstresses was absolutely delighted and began using the machine to fabricate compression garments. They worked on the rolls of garment materials, cutting various lengths and designs for future patients.

Photo by Phil Borges.

Redesigning our workspace

Colombo, Sri Lanka- Rick Sieller, ReSurge visiting educator.

Dr. Perera assigned key staff members to assist me with the complete redesign of the workspace as we strived to create "islands of excellence" used in burn rehabilitation clinics in Central America which Dr. Perera and one of her staff members visited a few years ago.  After finding and unpacking four pallets of supplies and materials, the three rooms were equipped with the necessary equipment/supplies specific to each component of the comprehensive rehabilitation clinic (uvex face mask, splinting and garment fabrication). We were fortunate enough to convert a small back room into a casting room dedicated to patients with neck and face burns.

Burn unit at the National Hospital of Sri Lanka

Colombo, Sri Lanka- Rick Sieller, ReSurge visiting educator.

We have been very busy and productive. Upon our arrival and after a tour of the burn ward at the National Hospital of Sri Lanka, Dr. Chandini Perera (pictured above), ReSurge International’s partner, invited us to participate in her clinic day.  Countless numbers of patients passed through with varying degrees of complexities. An obvious trend presented itself; burned faces, hands and chests of women and burned hands and faces of men. Dr. Perera showed us her three small clinic areas which are the epicenter of outpatient adult burn care. The numbers of patients easily overwhelm the space.

Photo by Phil Borges.