spot_imgspot_img
Saturday, November 9, 2024

SMILE TRAIN AND KIDS OPERATING ROOM UNVEIL REFURBISHED PEDIATRIC THEATRE AT JFK MEDICAL CENTER

Date:

The newly refurbished pediatric theatre seeks to strengthen surgical and anesthesia care for children in Liberia…

LIBERIA – Smile Train, the world’s largest cleft-focused organization, and Scottish Charity Kids Operating Room (KidsOR) have today opened doors to a newly refurbished pediatric theatre at The John F. Kennedy Medical Center in Monrovia, Liberia.

The theatre has brightly coloured walls with pristine surgical and anaesthesia equipment, ample lighting, and artistic features on walls that offer optical easement to children and adults alike, a welcomed distraction from the unsettling atmosphere of an operating room. This refreshing look would serve the approximately 1.3 million people in the capital city.

First Lady of the Republic of Liberia Lady Clar Marie Duncan-Weah was in attendance and expressed delight at the facelift of the theatre: “The Liberian Government has long prioritized uplifting maternal and child health service delivery. We are deeply touched by the marvelous transformation that Smile Train and KidsOR have made to the country’s largest referral hospital which can now administer quality surgical care to children in a space that makes them feel valued and cared for.”

Smile Train Senior Program Manager West Africa Victoria Awazie underscored her organization’s commitment to enhancing quality surgical care reaching the most underserved communities saying: “The John F. Kennedy Medical Center receives on average three to five children with clefts in need of life-changing surgery, and an average of 15-20 children in need of surgeries for other paediatric surgical conditions every week.  Our highest priority in treating children is their safety. The theatre we have refurbished in partnership with KidsOR will ensure all children in need of safe, timely and quality surgery receive the highest standards of treatment.”

Kids Operating Room Regional Director for Africa Rosemary Mugwe highlighted that the partnership seeks to address the glaring gaps in low-to-middle-income countries that require better infrastructure to provide quality surgery: “Children make up about 50 percent of the population in LMICs; as such, dedicated pediatric theatres like this one improve health-care system and capacity for the provision of quality safe surgery for children. This theatre is a huge milestone in meeting the needs of the children of Liberia and we couldn’t be prouder of this achievement.”

Africa has the youngest population in the world, and the continent’s overall population is set to grow exponentially by 2050. Research indicates that 85 percent of children in Africa require some form of surgery by their 15th birthday.

The long-term collaboration between Smile Train and Kids Operating Room has continued to innovate and invest in strengthening surgical and anaesthesia care in order to reach the last-mile patients in Africa since 2020. The charities have installed 16 life-transforming pediatric theatres in 10 countries, with a vision of treating more than 12,000 children over the next five years.

The Smile Train-KidsOR partnership is also supporting a pediatric surgery scholarship for the training and education of 40 paediatric surgeons across Africa in partnership with the West African College of Surgeons (WACS) and the College of Surgeons of East, Central and Southern Africa (COSECSA).

Further, to tackle the dual challenge of unsustainable power supply to theatres in Africa while reducing Greenhouse Gas emissions, Smile Train and KidsOR will begin implementing stand-alone solar battery support systems in pediatric operating rooms in Africa in 2023, with the first hospitals currently being identified.

smartnews
Smart News Liberia is an online news outlet and a product of Smart Media Group Inc. Our website, smartnewsliberia.com, covers a broad spectrum of news content. For inquiries or information, you can reach us at 0777425285 or 0886946925, or email us at smartnewsliberia@gmail.com or info@smartnewsliberia.com.

LATEST DEVELOPMENT

A HOUSE DIVIDED CANNOT STAND AS MADAM GUAR CONDEMNS PROTEST ON CAPITOL

MONROVIA – Madam Grace RK Guar, a U.S.-based Liberian...

NPHIL STRENGTHENS PUBLIC HEALTH WITH NEW GENOMIC SEQUENCING AMID MONKEYPOX OUTBREAK

MONROVIA – In a groundbreaking development for Liberia’s public...

A MILESTONE FOR LIBERIA’S HIGHER EDUCATION, BUT CHALLENGES REMAIN

The launch of Liberia’s first doctoral programs at the...

BOAKAI’S MISPLACED AMBITIONS AS LIBERIA BLEEDS AND THE PRESIDENT COURTS GLOBAL VANITY

Eight months into his presidency, Joseph Boakai’s administration is...

TAKE IMMEDIATE PRECAUTIONS TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF MPOX – STAY ALERT, STAY PROTECTED

As Liberia confronts the resurgence of Mpox, the confirmation...

NO JUSTIFICATION FOR HIGH SALARIES OF BOAKAI ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS AMID ECONOMIC STRUGGLES

In the midst of Liberia's current economic struggles, revelations...

COMMENTARY

THE MASS DISMISSAL OF LIBERIAN PUBLIC SERVANTS: A TROUBLING TREND UNDER THE BOAKAI ADMINISTRATION

A Commentary by Wondah L. Jah Since assuming the presidency,...

SECURITY RISKS: IS PRESIDENT BOAKAI UNKNOWINGLY SETTING THE STAGE FOR EARLY COUP D’ÉTAT?

In his commentary, Liberian political analyst Vandalerk R. Patricks...

IS JOSEPH BOAKAI LISTENING TO PROTESTS AROUND AFRICA?

A Commentary By Wondah L. Jah In January, Joseph Boakai,...

LATEST NEWS

SUPREME COURT SUMMONS HOUSE ‘MAJORITY BLOC’ AMID SPEAKER KOFFA’S LEGAL BATTLE

MONROVIA, LIBERIA – The political turbulence within the Liberian...

LIBERIA’S ANTI-TRAFFICKING EFFORTS UNDER FIRE: DOWNGRADED TO TIER 2 WATCH LIST

MONROVIA - The U.S. Department of State released its...

MAN FALLS TO HIS DEATH FROM PALM TREE IN LOFA

By Junior Sele juniorsele1990@gmail.com 0778322324/0880 626848 Liberia – A 22-year-old man, Saysay...

Share post:

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

OPINION

LIBERIANS ARE IN AN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE UP AND CDC

  An Opinion By Grace RK Guar Every six...

AMERICA’S NEGLECT OF LIBERIA: A CALL FOR CHANGE

An Opinion By Bishop Dr. Rudolph Q. Kwanue, Sr A...

AMID AN UNENDING WAR AGAINST POVERTY, INJUSTICES – HAS THE PROGRESSIVE STRUGGLE BECOME LOST IN TRANSLATION?

A Patriot's Diary With Ekena Wesley What manner of Liberian progressives...

HAS PRESIDENT BOAKAI’S GOVERNMENT BEGUN BEARING GOOD FRUITS? (PART1)

By Jacob N.B. Parley Following a careful reflection, I have...

ELEVATING THE AG BIBLE COLLEGE TO A UNIVERSITY: A MILESTONE ACHIEVEMENT

By Jacob N.B. Parley After many years of successful preaching...

THE GALLERY

spot_imgspot_img

MORE ARTICLES

spot_imgspot_img

MORE NEWS

LATEST DEVELOPMENT NEWS

LATEST CRIME NEWS

Share via
Copy link