Haiti: Orthopedic Surgical Program
6-year-old Girl Receives Life-Changing Operation
October 10, 2016
Nancy Samedi
A Life-Changing Operation
Nancy Samedi is a 6-year-old girl who has been living with a very severe form of Blount’s disease, a deformity of the lower limbs that commonly afflicts a specific ethnic group in Haiti. The disease also includes increased weight and specific morphologic features, as well as moderate to severe progressive medial leg bowing and tibial bone changes.
Because of the deformation caused by Blount’s disease, Nancy and children like her face physical disability, discrimination, limited opportunities, and the emotional and financial distress which accompanies these. Thanks to the operation that Nancy received for free through RMF’s surgical clinic at the Hôpital Lambert Santé, she will gain greater mobility and have opportunities that would otherwise be denied her.
Below are several photos detailing Nancy’s surgery:
Background
In the aftermath of the January 12, 2010 earthquake, in addition to tackling some of the immediate relief needs, RMF moved forward with a comprehensive long-term strategy for sustainable health services development in Haiti to help rebuild its shattered public health system. Six years have passed since most of Haiti’s infrastructure was devastated, and while much progress has been made in rubble clearing and somewhat in rebuilding efforts, there is still much work to be done. Our new Surgical Support program is providing surgeries and follow-up treatment for children and adults in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
Objectives
- To provide free clinical services at Hôpital Lambert Santé Surgical Clinic in Pétion-Ville.
- To provide care for patients with severe conditions and deformities, while focusing on improving their overall health, functionality, and optimizing their chances to thrive as active members of their communities.
- To increase overall access to quality secondary and tertiary care for the entire Haitian population.
More Reports on: Orthopedic Surgical Program Archive
Country Page: Haiti
Initiative Page: Orthopedic Surgical Program