October Surgical Camp a Success!

Where: Kabudula Community Hospital

Dates: 11-12 October 2021

Our October surgical camp went really well! The teams completed a couple of really big procedures as well as treating many minor cases. All in all, there was a lot of good work accomplished in just two days - everyone worked really hard and stayed after hours to finish up.

Did you know? By allocating each operating theater to a different type of procedure, we’re able to conduct three procedures at once? One room works on thyroid issues, one is for abdominal issues, and the third covers other minor procedures. All rooms use different set ups so we’re able to maximize use of equipment & space.

Order of operations is determined by condition as we aim for all booked patients to be treated plus walk-ins.

It takes some truly remarkable & dedicated people to pull off forty procedures in two days. Here are some snapshots of our team in action.

AHA Volunteers make surgical camps possible

From left, Jonathan, Jacleen, and Doreen wait on the AHA porch before heading to Kabudula for a day of surgery. All three are local students gaining hands-on experience with AHA while studying various public-health-related fields. Jonathan is interested in hospital equipment engineering and maintenance, while Jacleen and Doreen are studying social work and public health programs serving underprivileged populations. We are so lucky to have these volunteers working with us!

Dr. Nelson gets ready to drive to Kab for a day of surgery

Dr Nelson Msiskah, a surgeon from KCH who works with us regularly on outreach to Kabudula, sits in the Rover preparing for departure for the first day of surgical camp at Kabudula. Next to him is our electrocautery machine, which we provide along with many additional materials, medications, and equipment to make these surgeries possible at the rural community hospital.

The team loads up to head to Kabudula

From left, volunteer Jonathan, nurse Christina, KCH Dr. William, volunteer Doreen, and volunteer Jacleen loaded up and heading out to Kabudula to kick off the October local surgical camp.

Jacleen checks in patients

Jacleen is a local social worker student who is working with AHA in her spare time to gain invaluable experience. Here she checks in a patient at Kab.

Guardians wait for their family

Guardians are relatives or close friends who accompany a patient to a health appointment. In some settings, guardians are required to provide basic care for the patient including cooking, bathing, pain management, and more. At our out patient surgical camps, guardians are only asked to wait outside while we treat the patient before accompanying them home.

Patients wait to be checked in

We prioritize treating patients who have made appointments. but also try to see as many walk-in patients as we are able.

Doreen checks in a patient.

Social work student Doreen is working with AHA during her school break to gain experience and support the important work of the organization. Here she checks in a patient at Kabudula.

Patients and guardians wait outside Kabudula

Patients and guardians wait outside Kabudula

Here are some before & after pictures of patients who have visible ailments.

All patients knowingly consented to having their pictures taken and shared.

Here are some stats from our October surgical camp.

Patient Ages

We operated on four teenagers and thirty-six adults.

Types of Procedures

Distances Traveled by Patients (km)

Patients sometimes travel incredible distances to receive care for their ailments.

Distances Traveled by Patients (mi)

Patients sometimes travel incredible distances to receive care for their ailments.

Types of Procedures

The team completed nine major procedures and thirty-one minor procedures.

Patient Gender

The team allows patients to self-identify their gender. We saw nineteen female patients and twenty-one male patients.

Types of Appointments

While we prioritize seeing patients with pre-arranged appointments, we strive to see as many walk-in patients as possible.

This two-day surgical camp that treated forty patients cost just $700. That’s less than $18 per patient. To support future local surgical camps, donate here.

Zikomo.

Thank you.