Free Surgery for Liberian Children

A Minnesota based charity organization, Children Surgery International is expected in Liberia on January 25, 2010 to render free surgical services to Liberian children. This medical exercise which is being done in partnership with Firestone-Liberia will provide free surgical operations to children with cleft lip and palate, undescended testicles, hernia, swollen neck, hypospadias, fused fingers, and other conditions. According to Mr. Carlos W Smith Jr., Information/Communication Manager at Firestone-Liberia, CSI's major concentration will be treating children with cleft lip and palate. However, given the number of cases, and the availability of resources, the team will also treat children and some adults with other conditions.

In a brief interview with Mr. Smith, he informed this paper that the prescreening for the surgical exercise is already on and will continue every Tuesday and Thursday from 9.00am to 2.00pm until January 28 at the Duside Hospital in Harbel. To sign up for the prescreening, prospective candidates as asked to call 06411422 or 06578615. The CSI mission to Firestone-Liberia will bring 21 doctors and nurses from the United States to join doctors and nurses in Liberia for the conduct to aforementioned free surgeries. For its part, Firestone will provide lodging, feeding, and transportation for the visiting team as well as for the children and their parents. Firestone is also providing additional logistical support to the visiting team to ensure the success of the mission.

Aside from bringing relief to patients, the mission will also provide training and practical experience for Liberian doctors and nurses.

It can be recalled that CSI, which is a member of the SMILE network, visited Liberia in 2008 during which time they rendered similar free surgical services to Liberians. The 2008 mission was to Phebe Hospital in Bong County.

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