missions
KENYA ECUADOR COLOMBIA HAITI
Quito, Ecuador, February 2005
PCCHF’s inaugural mission took place in February 2005. Working in partnership with the respected aid organization INNFA (Instituto Nacional de la Ninez y La Familia) and local specialists, the 22 person volunteer medical team performed over 100 free surgeries at The Military Hospital in Quito.
The mission focused on corrective surgeries for children suffering from deformities such as cleft palate, cleft lip, clubfoot, ear microtia, burn scar revisions and septoplasties.
With INNFA’s support, the team was also able to reach out to families in the remote villages and rural provinces in Northern Ecuador. Beneficiaries received transportation, family accommodations and post surgical examinations free of charge.
One patient, Alex had an incredible story.
Alex had been found living in a cave, tethered with animals. Abandoned by his parents because he was not a normal baby, he was cared for by his grandparents.
He was diagnosed with cerebral palsy and was thought to have clubfeet, but it was discovered in surgery that his tendons had been constricted because of the way he mimicked the animals in the cave.
June 2008
PCCHF returned to Quito’s Military Hospital with a 20 person medical team ready to provide surgical care to patients in need.
Word had traveled by newspaper, television, and radio that American doctors were in Quito, ready to give aid to needy patients.
On the third floor of the hospital parents & children waited to be chosen to receive life-changing surgeries.
The team provided care to over 120 patients and performed 54 surgeries. The US surgical team worked alongside the Ecuadorian medical team to perform critical procedures, general surgeries and corrective plastic surgeries for conditions such as multiple cleft lip, cleft palate, ear microtia, gallbladder, and hernia. This mission launched PCCHF’s Student Volunteer Program, as six student volunteers participated in the mission as scribes, translators and assisted in medical screenings.
For the student volunteers it was an experience of a lifetime, and an opportunity to make a difference while being immersed in the culture and people of Ecuador.
A particular highlight of this mission was reconnecting with Alex, one of our first PCCHF patients. Alex was brought to us through INNFA (Instituto Nacional de la Ninez y La Familia), a remarkable aid organization for families and children. Alex had been found living in a cave, tethered with animals, abandoned by his parents because he was not a normal baby. He has cerebral palsy and was thought to have clubfeet, but it was discovered in surgery that his tendons had been constricted because of the way he mimicked the animals in the cave. Alex is now living at an INNFA facility for abandoned children. He has daily therapeutic horse exercise, which has helped improve his balance, muscle strength, flexibility, joint movement and posture.
upcoming
January 2012 Kenya
PCCHF’s US medical volunteers and surgical team in collaboration with local Nairobi ENT specialist Dr. Mujahid Din are scheduling a 10 day international mission to Malindi.
The mission’s focus will be ENT, Plastics, ophthalmology & pediatrics.
Knowledge transfer and training the local medical staff of the visiting hospital is expected.
Spring 2012, Tumaco, Colombia
A return mission is planned to the new hospital.
January 2008
The Paul Chester Children's Hope Foundation's future goals include liaising with local physicians and surgeons, nurses, and government officials to visit the facility with the intent of providing continuous local support and staffing. PCCHF will assume the role of collaboration, technology transfer, and possibly funding of full-time staff as the needs of the facility become better defined. In addition, we will work closely with the Catholic Mission and District Medical officers in coordinating treatment of difficult medical or social problems that may arise.
We have agreed to provide funds towards the installation of a solar-powered pump which will quadruple the pumping capacity of the existing well.
Future project planned to help fund the building of a pediatric ward for follow up infant care and for mothers who have just given birth.