Restoring dignity and confidence

Opération Sourire in Chad

Djamena National General Hospital, Republic of Chad, February 21 to 28 2009 (7th mission)

Since 1999, one or two missions were held annually until 2004. Following that, political instability did not allow missions to be run under correct conditions. It was decided to return there at the request of our local partners and also because of a very strong desire not to give up on this country that is extremely lacking in medical facilities.

For this mission, the principal pathology operated on was the labio-maxillo-palatine slits, which concern the opening of the lip or palate that should have closed during the first weeks of the development of the foetus. This opening prevents the children from being correctly nourished, food passing by the nose. Pronunciation is also affected, and therefore the majority of children thus affected do not go to school.

The Médecins du Monde team was made up of 5 people: 3 surgeons, an anaesthetist and an operating room nurse. Formal training is done on-site but interruption of the missions due to political instability makes such training difficult.

During this mission, surgery was performed on 29 patients.

COPYRIGHT : Catherine Henriette