Pediatric Orthopaedic Screenings March 7, 2010

For our Togo ’10 Field Service, the hospital staff are trying a different approach to identify potential patients for orthopaedics, plastics (burn contractions), maxilo-facial and general surgerical patients. Instead of the larger mass screenings (usually done only for two days) and in cooperation with the Togolese Ministry of Health, the hospital have planned many smaller screenings here in the Lomé area and also in the central and northern regions of the country. On Monday, February 22nd, I joined the team as we went to the CNAO facility – our focus was for pediatric orthopaedic patients. I worked with Nick from Australia who is our physical therapist; we were at the second pre-screening station. I assisted with patient escort and crowd control as they came to be checked out by Nick. I used my limited French to talk with the child and the parent or caregiver. In addition, some of the parents knew some English as we are close to the Ghanaian border. A mother carried a small girl and when she put her down, I went down on my knees and the girl took a few stumbling steps and just fell into me with arms open wide and gave me a hug – she did the same for the entire team – regretfully she had a condition that we are not able to assist.

During the day, approximately 300 people came to the screening and about 200 made it through the pre-screening (others may have been referred to the eye or dental clinics). For this year in Togo, we are only focusing on pediatric patients for orthopaedics, those under the age of 15. In addition, this year the orthopaedic team will be conducting training and demonstration of the ponseti casting method, intended to care for children with club feet without the need of surgery. You can read more about it at www.ponseti.info. One of our patients was Romeo who was just five days old and has club feet and so he is an excellent candidate for the ponseti casting. Another mother brought her two baby twin girls – Ann and Annie – one has club feet and they have done her casting and she is being cared for in B ward.

Many of the patients we saw on Monday are right now on board the ship. Today, many of them attended the optional Sunday morning service in the wards, the first for this year. Plus some of them were up on Deck 7 this afternoon and I was able to visit them. In addition, I spent time with two boys, Kojo and Kokouvi, who both had cleft lip/palate surgery – they were going back and forth on the small ride-on-toys that are available for them to play on.

I would ask for your prayers for: *continued screenings for potential patients *patients we are caring for now in the hospital and will be caring for this year *all of our healthcare professionals who are providing for them.