Sierra Leone, October 2012

Sierra Leone 2012
Sierra Leone 2012
Sierra Leone 2012
Sierra Leone 2012
Sierra Leone 2012
Sierra Leone 2012
Sierra Leone 2012
Sierra Leone 2012
Sierra Leone 2012
Sierra Leone 2012

MISSION SUMMARY:

Date: October 2012
Location: Government Hospital, Kabala, Koinadugu, Sierra Leone
Team Size: 15
Length of Mission: 12 days
Number of Surgeries Performed: 88 major

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE

This is the first ISHI "repeat" Mission. The Mission was initially proposed in 2011 by Marina Goldman R.N. who had worked there as a volunteer with Peace Corps in the1980s. The mission to Kabala in 2011 was a success, with the collaboration of Dr Connie Smith (British GP), Mr. Peacemaker (local community health provider), and Mr. Peter Conte, Koinadugu District Chairman. There were many patients triaged but that could not get surgery in 2011. A repeat mission was suggested and welcomed by all. Mr. Peter Conte, District Chairman, was contacted in August 2012. He welcomed the repeat mission in October of 2012 and announced the mission on the radio. Mr. Peacemaker triaged the patients and invited the patients treated in 2011 to come for follow up.

The team carried all essential supplies to Dapitanon City. Supplies were donated by Americares and MAP International. Whatever supplies could not be procured by donations or were unable to be carried were purchased by ISHI; some items in the US, and others such as IV fluids, oxygen, and intravenous antibiotics locally. A refurbished electrocautery machine (donated by Americares) was given to the Hospital's Operating Room. Anesthesia moniters, which had been generously donated to ISHI by Mindray Corporation, were used in the OR's on this mission for intraoperative monitering.

MISSION ACHIEVEMENTS:

The ISHI team triaged more than 160 new surgical patients over 2 days. The majority of patients had complaints of hernias and/or hydroceles that were affecting their ability to work. The team performed 88 operations on 80 patients including 2 emergency life-saving operations and 4 pediatric cases. Beyond patient care, the ISHI team was able to expand community outreach, education, and research efforts in Sierra Leone this year.

We were able to support 2 other charitable organizations: Women Against Poverty and the Kabala School for the Blind. Further, the team conducted 6 formal lunchtime lectures at the Kabala Government Hospital and did daily teaching with local staff both at the bedside and in the operating room. Last, the team was able to collect data regarding the burden of surgical disease and the impact of our surgical interventions via this mission work in Kabala.

MISSION VOLUNTEERS:

Advaith Bongu MD, Anastasia Kunac MD, Bibo Sabbagh Logistics (behind camera), Cathy Blaskewicz NP, David Livingston MD, Debbie Livingston Artist, Emilia Wawszczyk RN, Jocelyn Kerpelman MSIV, John Dellamanna CRNA, Malik Jalloh CRNA, Marina Goldman NP, Mark Kunac Logistics, Rae Lynne Kinler MD, Stephanie Burroughs RN, Ziad Sifri MD

ISHI Sierra Leone 2012 Team