Medical Missions for Children

Misiones World Map
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Medical Missions for Children (MMFC) es una organización sin ánimo de lucro, dedicada exclusivamente a proveer la tan necesaria cirugía reconstructiva y cuidado dental a los niños y jóvenes menos privilegiados de nuestra sociedad.

A su vez, estamos altamente comprometidos a expandir horizontes educativos en las comunidades a las que llegan nuestras misiones, a través de una serie de conferencias, talleres, charlas e instrucción práctica para el equipo local de cirujanos, anestesiólogos, pediatras, enfermeros, dentistas, e ingenieros biomédicos que colaboran con MMFC en cada una de las misiones.

		Antigua, Guatemala (1) 9 Years of Consecutive Missions Since 2000, Medical Missions for Children has traveled to Antigua, Guatemala, delivering free surgical and dental care to infants and children with cleft deformities and other congenital anomalies. Working closely with Partners in Surgery through the Hermano Pedro Hospital, MMFC facilitates bringing impoverished families from very distant corners of Guatemala to our host hospital for surgical treatment. Most of the rural communities in Guatemala have no access to any level of medical care. Therefore, many families travel two or more days seeking MMFC’s help for their child. Each year, MMFC staffs this mission with two volunteer teams, which enables a variety of surgical and dental procedures to be completed at this one location. Date of our last mission: January 5 - 12, 2008. Total number of MMFC team members who participated: 24 Hospital where the mission was based: Hermano Pedro Hospital. Total number of patients screened: 122 Total number of surgeries performed: 70 Surgeries performed: Cleft lip and palate repair, excision of facial neoplasms, Stage I, II, III microtia repair, and excision of scalp squamous cell carcinoma Total number of dental procedures performed: 100 Goals for future missions: Medical Missions for Children will continue to complete at least one mission per year in Guatemala, given the great need there and impressive dedication of the local medical community. Return to top.
		Quito, Ecuador (2) 10 Years of Consecutive Missions Cleft Lip and Palate Team Quito, the capital of Ecuador, is located in the Andes Mountains, 9,500 feet above sea level. Despite this mountainous terrain, some families travel for two or three days to wait in line at Fundación Tierra Nueva Hospital, our home base for this mission, with the hope of finding reconstructive care for their children. In Quito, MMFC team members concentrate their efforts on helping children with cleft lip and palate deformities. Along with the surgical and dental procedures that are performed, MMFC also provides educational conferences for local medical staff, training of local biomedical technicians, and donations of operating room and dental equipment. Date of our last mission: August 18–26, 2007 Total number of MMFC team members who participated: 31 Hospital where the mission was based: Fundación Tierra Nueva Hospital Total number of patients screened: 123 Total number of surgeries performed: 62 Surgeries performed: Cleft lip and palate repair, repair of third degree burn injuries, and excision of facial lesions Total number of dental procedures performed: 100 Donations given: Medication & supplies for the OR as well as an entire dental office, including furniture, equipment, dental tools and medications Goals for future missions: To continue to provide medical care as needed, as well as to expand our current educational outreach program to include more hands-on training for local staff and more seminars/lectures on a selection of diverse medical procedures and topics. Return to top.
		Quito, Ecuador (2) 7 Years of Consecutive Missions Microtia Team As the cleft palate team departs from Quito, our Microtia team arrives to perform reconstructive ear surgeries at Fundación Tierra Nueva Hospital. As with clefts of the lip and palate, Microtia (or absence of the ear) is a devastating deformity. This is a common congenital defect in the indigenous population of the Andes. An average of three surgical procedures is required to repair such a deformity. The incidence of Microtia in Quito is among the highest in the world, almost 7.5 times higher than the average incidence. Date of our last mission: August 4 – 11, 2007 Total number of MMFC team members who participated: 15 Hospital where the mission was based: Fundación Tierra Nueva Hospital Total number of patients screened: 86 Total number of surgeries performed: 153 Surgeries performed: Microtia reconstructions with rib harvest, lobule repositioning, creation of post-auricular and reconstruction of tragus/concha Donations given: Medical and office supplies and equipment Goals for future missions: To expand the number of patients served in 2008 to 72, which have already been selected and confirmed by the microtia team. Return to top.
		Guayaquil, Ecuador (3) 18 Years of Consecutive Missions Several of our team members have been serving children and young adults from Guayaquil, Ecuador, for the past 18 years. Guayaquil, with a population of over 3 million people, is by far the largest city in the country, and access to medical care is very limited. Our local sponsor is the Nahim Isaias Foundation, a non-profit group dedicated to providing medical and dental healthcare to the needy patient population. Over the past several years, MMFC teams have worked at the National Naval Hospital and at the Roberto Gilbert Alizalde Children Hospital. Working closely with local medical staff, our teams provide surgical and dental care to as many children as possible. Date of our last mission: March 24-April 1, 2007 Total number of MMFC Team members who participated: 26 Hospital where the mission was based: Roberto Gilbert Alizalde Children Hospital. Total number of patients screened: 120 Total number of surgeries performed: 65 Total number of dental procedures performed: 261 Surgeries performed: Repair of cleft lip & palate deformities, scar revision, cleft lip rhinoplasties, pharyngeal flaps & similar reconstructive procedures. Donations: medications & supplies. Goals for future missions: To improve and expand our current educational outreach program to include more hands-on training for local surgeons and medical staff and more seminars/lectures on a selection of diverse medical procedures and topics. Return to top.
		Cusco, Peru (4) 5 Years of Consecutive Missions At an altitude of nearly 12,000 feet, working in Cusco is a challenge for all team members. Medical Missions for Children’s first mission to Cusco, Peru, was completed at the Cusco Regional Hospital in 2003. Like all of our mission sites, Cusco is rife with poverty and the need is overwhelming. In 2006, MMFC partnered with the Social Security Hospital to provide surgical and dental humanitarian services. This cooperation also extends to equipment donation and educational activities. Two missions to Cusco in 2007: May and November Date of our last mission: October 27–November 3, 2007 Total number of MMFC team members who participated: 28 Hospital where the mission was based: EsSalud Social Security Hospital Total number of patients screened: 80 Total number of surgeries performed: 55 Total number of dental procedures performed:73 Surgeries performed: cleft lips and palates, cleft lip rhinoplasties, scar revision and pharyngeal flaps Donations given: 3 fully equipped anesthesia machines, anesthesia monitor, Pulse Oximeter, Pediatric IV pumps, medications and supplies Goals for future missions: MMFC will be working closely with EsSalud Hospital to provide comprehensive and team-oriented treatment to the cleft patients including orthodontics, dental care, speech therapy and social work/family support services. Return to top.
		San Salvador, El Salvador (5) 3 years of Consecutive Missions On January 13, 2006, at the invitation of the First Lady of El Salvador, Mrs. Ana Ligia Mixco de Saca and her organization, Secretaría Nacional de la Familia, Medical Missions for Children visited San Salvador, capital of El Salvador, for the first time. After determining that the need was quite significant, a full surgical and pediatric dental team returned on May 13, for a period of one week, to perform corrective cleft lip and microtia procedures as well as advanced pediatric dental procedures. Since that date, MMFC is committed to one yearly mission to El Salvador to handle the large number of cleft and microtia deformities. Date of our last mission: February 2 – 10, 2008 Total number of MMFC team members who participated: 18 Hospital where the mission was based: Hospital Nacional de Niño Benjamin Bloom Total number of patients screened: 110 Total number of surgeries performed: 49 Surgeries performed: Cleft and microtia procedures Donations given: A fully equipped anesthesia machine, two pediatric IV pumps and a desktop computer. The equipment was presented to hospital director Dr. Iraheta by the First Lady, Ana Ligia Mixco de Saca Goals for future missions: Provide continuity of care to those patients who have already been treated by the team, as well as provide care to new patients with similar congenital deformities. Return to top.
		L’viv and Chervonohrad, Ukraine (6) 9 Years of Consecutive Missions After 70 years of Soviet domination, Ukraine achieved independence in 1991. Despite this new found freedom, progress in health care delivery has proceeded very slowly. Most citizens have little if any access to state-of-the-art surgical care, particularly in regard to complex surgical procedures. Since 1999, MMFC teams have traveled at least once per year to L’viv, working simultaneously at two hospitals: the Regional Specialized Children's Hospital and the Pediatric Burn Hospital of L’viv, in conjunction with the local Foundation Emergency Medical Aid to Ukraine. In addition, MMFC is now working at the Hospital for Invalids and the City Hospital of Chervonohrad. The needs at Chervonohrad are overwhelming, and at present the MMFC team is focusing on pediatric thyroid surgery. Date of our last mission: May 26-June 2, 2007 Total number of MMFC team members who participated: 5 Hospital where the mission was based: The Regional Specialized Children’s Hospital. Total number of patients screened: 147 Total number of surgeries performed: 42 Surgeries performed: Thyroidectomies, thyroid lobectomies, umbilical hernia repairs, advancement/rotation flaps for repair of burn scar injuries-neck and scalp, inguinal hernia repairs, full thickness skin graft auricular burn scar, revision of neck burn scar with multiple Z-Plasty, revision facial bum scars with advancement/rotation flap, burn scar reconstruction with tissue expanders, and excision facial nevi Donations given: 2 state-of the-art anesthesia machines, over 100 tissue expanders, multiple surgical kits, pediatric bronchoscope, surgical supplies to both hospitals, micro vascular surgical supplies, micro surgical optics, medical books, complete pediatric GI endoscopy equipment, and The HINARI medical literature access system. Goals for future missions: Continue the expansion of our surgical and educational programs at The Regional Specialized Children’s Hospital and Burn Center. Return to top.
		Gitwe, Rwanda (7) 3 years of Consecutive Missions Gitwe, Rwanda, is a small village three hours by unpaved roads from Kigali, the country’s capital. The country itself is about the size of the state of Maryland. Gitwe Hospital, where our mission is based, is responsible for serving a population of nearly 2 million people. 2007 marked MMFC’s third visit to this desolate country and brought the first medical team that provided general anesthesia to the Gitwe hospital. MMFC has helped build an operating room and recovery area and has outfitted both with over $500,000 worth of medical equipment. Date of our last Mission: December 1 – 16, 2007 Total number of MMFC team members who participated: 10 Hospital where the mission was based: Gitwe Hospital Total number of patients screened: 190 Total surgeries performed: 33 Surgeries performed: Cleft lip repair and thyroid surgery/head and neck tumor surgery Donations given: State-of-the-art anesthesia machine, medications and operating room supplies, clothing for children and teenagers, and essential hygiene products Goals for future missions: Evaluate and provide surgical care for patients with parotid and thyroid tumors, cleft lip and palate repair. MMFC will continue local staff training at both the physician and nursing level. As well, we will continue to provide books and other educational material for the local hospital staff. Return to top.
		Phalodi, Rajasthan, India (8) 2 years of Consecutive Missions In January 2007, and at the invitation of the International Human Benefits Services Hospital (HBS), Medical Missions for Children began to provide corrective cleft procedures in the impoverished region of Phalodi, Rajasthan. Located between Jodhpur and Jaisalmer, HBS promotes self-sustainable infrastructure development of education, healthcare and sanitation in rural Rajasthan’s Khichan-Phalodi region. This region of India has a population close to 56 million and an overwhelming need for expansion of healthcare services. The daily income of many of the patients cared for on these missions is 50 cents/day. Date of our last Mission: Jan 4-13, 2008 Total number of MMFC team members who participated: 10 Hospital where the mission was based: Human Benefits Services Hospital Total number of patients screened: 45 Total surgeries performed: 40 Surgeries performed: Cleft lip repair, excision of facial nevus and dental extractions Donations given: Surgical and medical supplies for the operating room Goals for future missions: To increase the number of patients treated with each mission and to expand our medical care throughout the Khichan-Phalodi region. Return to top.
		Leyte, Philippines (9) 3 years of Consecutive Missions MMFC made their inaugural mission to The Philippines in February of 2005. The chosen site was the island of Leyte, southeast of Manila. The primary focus of this mission was on the care of children with severe congenital deformities. The MMFC team quickly noticed that the local hospital was desperately in need of state-of-the-art anesthesia and surgical equipment. Over the next few years Medical Missions for Children hopes to help improve the medical technology available in Leyte by providing more equipment donations. The 2008 mission will be extended 4 additional days to maximize outreach efforts. Date of our last mission: February 16 – 28, 2007 Total number of MMFC team members who participated: 15 Hospital where the mission was based: Leyte Provincial Hospital Total number of patients screened: 109 Total number of surgeries performed: 63 Surgeries performed: Cleft lip and cleft palate repairs Goals for future missions: Completion of at least one mission per year to the Philippines and to research possible development of other sites within this region of the world. MMFC will also spend time securing much-needed surgical equipment donations for the Leyte Provincial Hospital. Return to top.
		Bamako, Mali (10) Completed first mission in December of 2007 Mali, the largest country in West Africa, is bordered by seven other states. The northwestern region of the country, which extends into the Sahara, is desert terrain. Today, Mali is one of the poorest countries in the world. In the late nineteenth century, Mali became a French colony, and in 1960 it became an independent state. The country has suffered from periods of internal and external strife, as well as from an extended drought in the early 1970s. Today, Mali appears to be moving toward a stable, multi-party democratic government. Healthcare and basic hygiene continue to be major obstacles for families living throughout this country. Through an invitation from the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Gabriel in Bamako, MMFC completed its inaugural mission in December 2007. Date of our last mission: December 7– 16, 2007 Total number of MMFC team members who participated: 13 Hospital where the mission was based: Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Gabriel Total number of patients screened: 120 Total number of surgeries performed: 39 Surgeries performed: Unilateral and bilateral cleft lip repair Total number of patients treated by the dental team: 55 Donations Given: a fully equipped anesthesia machine and medical supplies Goals for future missions: MMFC will incorporate a speech therapy program and increase the number of surgical and dental procedures completed. In addition, we will expand our educational lecture program. MMFC hopes to develop further relationships with the local government and to develop a stronger infrastructure at Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Gabriel. Return to top.
		Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (11) Completed first mission in September of 2007 At an invitation from Comprehensive Community Based Rehabilitation of Tanzania (CCBRT), in Dar-Es-Salaam, Tanzania, MMFC completed its first mission in 2007. Throughout Tanzania, there are approximately 120 tribes, many of which have their own indigenous languages. Our team evaluates and treats the most impoverished children in Dar-Es-Salaam, and as well refugees from Burundi, Uganda, and The Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire). Date of our last Mission: September 26 – October 7, 2007 Total number of MMFC team members who participated: 8 Hospital where the mission was based: Comprehensive Community Based Rehabilitation of Tanzania Total number of patients screened: 110 Total number of surgeries performed: 36 Surgeries performed: Cleft lip repair, cleft palate repair, trauma, burn injuries, head and neck cancer Donations given: 2 monitors, anesthesia machine, surgical instruments, medical books and supplies Goals for future missions: Increase the 2008 mission trip to 2 weeks and increase surgical volume to 50 patients. MMFC hopes to increase donations of needed supplies on a yearly basis. Return to top.
		Trujillo, Peru (12) First Mission to be completed in May 2008 Our team will work at Belen Hospital with full coordination, support and involvement of the local medical staff. Although many cities in Peru are over-served by volunteer cleft teams, Trujillo continues to be under-served with only one other team visiting this city annually. The northern mountainous regions and surrounding low lying areas of Peru are too remote for surgical teams to access, resulting in a significant overload of patients requiring care at the Belen Hospital. The screening process has already been initiated by the local plastic surgeon. Our Lima based surgical coordinator and orthodontist will be flying into Trujillo in March to initiate necessary orthodontic treatments prior to the team’s arrival in May. A full educational program is currently being set up in coordination with the local medical, nursing and dental faculties in Trujillo. We expect to screen 80-100 patients and perform 45-50 cleft lip repairs during this first mission. Return to top.

Medical Missions For Children, Inc. Suite 500 10-G Roessler Road Woburn, MA 01801

E-mail:	info@mmfc.org
Teléfono:	+1 (508) 697-5821
Fax:	+1 (781) 501-5225

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