At this time I’m heading to Kigali, Rwanda the place greater than 400 main world teachers, coverage makers and well being care consultants will collect on the Pan-African Surgical Convention to handle a significant world well being drawback: bringing entry to complete surgical care nearer to sufferers’ houses.
This necessary gathering has me reflecting on a visit I took with my husband, plastic surgeon Invoice Magee, greater than 40 years in the past to the Philippines to assist kids in want of life-changing surgical procedures. We dreamed of utilizing our well being care experience to convey new smiles to kids who wanted cleft lip and palate surgical procedures. We operated on 40 kids however needed to flip away 300 extra. The necessity was overwhelming—not only for cleft care, however for all surgical procedures within the Philippines and dozens of different international locations worldwide.
We additionally realized that in lots of locations, there was a scarcity of skilled physicians, nurses, gear and infrastructure, not only for cleft care however for secure surgical procedures of every kind. What began with a toddler with a cleft situation led us to a group, which confirmed us the necessity for a motion. That second sparked Operation Smile, which was based on the assumption that whenever you see a necessity, you are taking motion in direction of addressing that want.
At this time, we’ve got helped over 400,000 sufferers worldwide with surgical care, whereas supporting 1000’s extra who acquired free complete care companies. What began in a village within the Philippines has develop into a world group that works completely in 37 international locations.
However the want continues to be so nice. Worldwide, over 5 billion folks—greater than two-thirds of the world’s inhabitants—lack entry to secure, inexpensive surgical procedure.
Actual change occurs when care is native. That’s why we’ve got advanced our technique to give attention to coaching and equipping in-country surgeons and medical groups to ship life-saving procedures in their very own communities.
We work carefully with native medical leaders, well being ministries, universities, accrediting establishments, NGOs and worldwide organizations. We take heed to our in-country professionals, we help them and we be taught from them to drive impression.
In Africa, we function in 12 international locations, working with prime surgical and anesthesiology establishments to construct a sustainable workforce. Our work in Africa began in Kenya again in 1987, and in 2025, we’re increasing to Tanzania. Our key companions—COSECSA, CANECSA, the American Coronary heart Affiliation, and the World Federation Society of Anesthesia—assist us prepare and equip Africa’s subsequent technology of surgeons and anesthesiologists.
In Rwanda, a nation of 13 million, there have been simply two plastic surgeons when our work there started. Households in search of cleft surgical procedure traveled a whole lot of miles—solely to be turned away. To alter this, we partnered with the Rwandan authorities, introducing a hub-and-spoke mannequin that trains medical professionals regionally. At this time, Rwanda is scaling this mannequin nationwide, and we’re proud to help this effort alongside the Rwanda Surgical Society, the College of Rwanda, and the Rwandan Ministry of Well being.
Our impression is actual: from two plastic surgeons to almost two dozen, and from one nation to a continent-wide motion. Throughout Africa, 55 universities and establishments are coaching the following technology of surgeons, decentralizing care, and reducing prices for sufferers.
This work is greater than surgical procedure—it’s system change that can future-proof entry to surgical procedure. By strengthening native experience, decreasing reliance on out-of-country medical help, and equipping governments with real-time well being information, we’re making a sustainable future for surgical care in Africa.
On the Pan-African Surgical Convention in Kigali, world consultants will come collectively to push this agenda ahead. As a result of solely by bringing secure, dependable surgical procedure nearer to house can we ship hope, have an effect on lasting impression and make sure that no affected person is left behind.
Kathy Magee is the co-founder, president and CEO of Operation Smile, and a registered Nurse.
