complex surgeries completed
hospitals
2019
Mozambique Burn Mission
Our team of dedicated surgeons, pediatric anesthesiologists, physicians, physician assistant, nurses, and volunteers worked tirelessly to accomplish 30 complex, life-changing surgeries in one week. The mission included members from ReSurge International, Drs. Dorothy Gaal and Ron Gemberling, and Dr. Tobi Yerokun with the Children’s Burn Foundation.
Patient Spotlight
Meet Aleandro
A 4 year old boy from Matola province. Aleandro suffered serious burns when a pot of boiling water spilled on him when he was playing inside the house. Due to the shortage of qualified burn surgeons, he waited a week to receive surgery. After surgery, Aleandro was all smiles and back to his cheerful self.
Our Work
Ohana operated at two hospitals simultaneously – Maputo Central Hospital and Matola Provincial Hospital – to maximize our time in country. Surgeries performed included release of burn contracture of the feet, knees, elbows, and wrists, in addition to cleft palate reconstructions.
Because teaching is at the core of our mission statement, our team worked alongside Mozambican surgeons, nurses, and specialists to help provide quality care – by the end of the trip, local providers were able to perform most of the procedures themselves. Additionally , we started a research project using Mepilex/Mepitel dressings for burns and donor sites that the local nursing staff will continue after our departure. We plan to publish our findings and results in scholarly journals.
Partners
The mission included members from ReSurge International, Drs. Dorothy Gaal and Ron Gemberling, and Dr. Tobi Yerokun with the Children’s Burn Foundation.
Thank you to Kelly Fogel Photography and Toyota of Mozambique for their mission sponsorship.
Continued Support
To advocate for global surgical care, Dr. Kulber and Dr. Dee met with members of the Ministry of Health to promote prioritization and allocation of surgical care resources in Mozambique. Additionally, cooperation with regional government and Mozambique’s Ministry of Health led to a program in which in-country medical students would spend two years under the tutelage of American doctors before returning to help their homeland. We are ecstatic to have the support of the Ministry of Health and look forward to many more successful missions.
There is so much that could be done by the right pathway for people like yourselves to help countries like Mozambique. I am working on a plan to facilitate such help.
Prime Minister Tony Blair
Stay Updated
Stories from our mission trips.
Mission Mozambique: Stop the Screaming!
Kiki the Clown joins a medical team at a burn ward in Maputo, Mozambique, where amidst screams of pain and chaos, they bring relief and hope to suffering children by helping to establish a life-saving pain management protocol.
Ohana One’s Groundbreaking Work in Greenland: Advancing Surgical Care Through Collaboration and Innovation
The Ohana One team recently collaborated with Dr. Jeppe Lohfert Haslund-Vinding and the surgical team at Queen Ingrid’s Hospital in Nuuk, Greenland, showcasing their groundbreaking technology that connects surgeons globally in real-time to improve surgical outcomes, especially in remote locations.
Part Five: Making the Ohana One Documentary “The Ten Thousand Mile Bridge: Closing the Surgical Gap in Sub-Saharan Africa”
The Ohana One documentary is more than just a film; it is a call to action. The title of the documentary is The Ten Thousand Mile Bridge: Closing the Surgical Gap in sub Saharan Africa. The filmmakers behind this powerful project...