I have recently returned from a 10 day volunteer mission to Samoa performing plastic surgery with a team from Interplast. Our team consisted of fellow Sydney Plastic Surgeon Dr Ben Norris, anaesthetist Dr Allan Goodey and Melbourne RNs Simone Kairouz and Elka Lushington. We performed over 80 consults and performed over 50 operations.
I did quite a few cleft lip and palate operations, as well as scar releases following burns, traumatic wounds, hand injuries and removing the odd extra finger and toe. Cleft lip surgery is very much “instant gratification” for all concerned. It only takes an hour or two to perform, but the results are life-changing.
I also did an Interplast trip to Samoa last year, so it was great to be able to catch up with some of the kids I operated on back then to see how they are doing now. Below is a young boy who had a nasty bilateral cleft lip and palate. I repaired his lip last year, and did the palate this year.
It was an honour to be a part of Interplast’s Team Samoa. Elka, Simone, Ben and Alan are all fantastic at what they do. The local hospital staff were wonderful, especially Dr Aleki and all the theatre staff. We all worked very hard but I can’t think of a more rewarding experience.
It was also lovely to meet the Australian High Commissioner to Samoa, Dr Stephen Henningham, who came down to visit us at the Hospital.
Interplast Australia & New Zealand is a non profit organisation that sends teams of volunteer surgeons, anaesthetists, nurses and allied therapists to developing countries in the Asia Pacific Region to provide free surgical treatment and medical training. You can donate to Interplast through their website www.interplast.com.au.