(KPL) Interplast Australia & New Zealand (Interplast) will visit the Mahosot General Hospital, Vientiane from Sunday 17 to Friday 22 February and the Lao Friends Hospital for Children, Luang Prabang from Sunday 24 February to Friday 1 March 2019 to provide plastic and reconstructive surgical services and training in the areas of burns management and treatment.

The medical team consists of Dr James Savundra (Surgeon), Ms Gillian Bathgate (Nurse), Ms Lisa Thompson (Nurse), Dr David Vyse (Anaesthetist), and Ms Sharon Goldby (Hand Therapist).

The Interplast medical team will conduct a free consultation clinic for patients who have congenital and acquired deformities including burn injuries at the Mahosot General Hospital on Sunday 17 February 2019. Surgeries will be performed free of charge from Monday 18 February until Friday 22 February 2019.

The free consultation clinic will then be provided at the Lao Friends Hospital for Children on Sunday 24 February with surgeries taking place from Monday 25 February until Friday 1 March 2019.

Interplast’s long-term objectives are to improve the quality of life of people living with disability as a result of congenital or acquired medical conditions who would otherwise not receive treatment. While our volunteers work they also train and mentor local professionals, laying the foundations for stronger health systems.

Interplast commenced programs in Laos in 1995 in cooperation with the Lao Ministry of Health, initially focusing on cleft lip and palate training. Since 1996, Interplast has undertaken more than 27 visits to Laos to train local staff in the techniques of cleft lip and palate repair and conducted over 1500 surgeries. The annual Interplast visit to Laosfocuses on congenital and acquired deformities as well as the training and mentoring of local medical staff.

This program is proudly funded by Gary Stafford’s Spellbrook Foundation Fund and the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP).

KPL