WPP mission keeps getting better

Seventy-eight patients were seen last week and 34 surgeries conducted by a 10-member team of specialists in ophthalmology and plastic surgery from the World Pediatric Project (WPP).

And Dr Nadia Blanchet, who led the plastic surgery team, said the programme keeps getting better.

“The amazing thing is how the program keeps getting better and better; it gets more and more organized, we have patients coming in from new islands every year; it continually improves and strives to improve and I think that really hooks you,” Dr Blanchet said.

The plastic surgeon said the most exciting aspect of this most recent mission is having worked all week long with Dr Jasmine Ellis, local consultant paediatric surgeon at Milton Cato Memorial Hospital (MCMH).

“I really feel that she has launched and can do them (surgeries) without me and that’s a part of the mission of what we want to do.”

Of the 38 children seen at the plastic surgery clinic, nine were regional patients from Antigua, Dominica, Grenada and St Lucia.

Lead ophthalmologist Dr Donna Brown said some of the cases worked on last week involved eye muscle problems, cornea transplant, cataract surgery and issues with eye development.

Seventeen paediatric surgeries were conducted by Dr Brown and her team during the course of what has been described as an intense and successful week.

The team of 10 qualified specialists who travelled to St Vincent to facilitate the dual mission included a paediatric ophthalmologist, plastic surgeons, a paediatric anaesthesiologist, a registered nurse anaesthetist, an operating room nurse, a registered nurse and a surgical technician.

A diagnostic cardiology mission from the WPP begins today at the MCMH and will run until March 2. It is being led by Dr William Moskowitz and over 100 persons are expected to be assessed during this clinic.