Alexandria – Egypt (Mission 9)
Arpan Global Charities (AGC) embarked on its ninth volunteer medical mission from September 20 to 26, 2010 to the University Hospital in Alexandria, Egypt.
This mission had 48 team members with a large contingency of physicians which included: two anesthesiologists, a colorectal surgeon, 2 gynecologist, a pediatric orthopedic surgeon, a cardio-thoracic surgeon, a pediatric general surgeon, 2 pediatric cardiologists, an ophthalmologist, an internist, 3 neonatologist, 2 general pediatricians and a radiologist. In addition there were 5 pharmacist, a physician assistant, 2 cardiac sonographers, 2 occupational therapist, 8 nurses, 7 non-medical volunteers, and 5 medical residents from different disciplines, who each contributed to the overall success of the mission.
While in Alexandria the team members examined and treated about eight hundred patients. There were seventy eight surgical procedures performed which included complex pediatric general and orthopedic surgeries, gynecological surgeries, gastrointestinal surgeries on the colon, Colonoscopy, heart surgeries, eye surgeries as well as thirty five echocardiograms. Approximately $100,000 worth of equipment, supplies and material donated by different organizations in US, including Boston Scientific, was used to perform above stated surgeries.
The AGC team doctors accompanied the University of Alexandria faculty doctors and their residents on daily bedside rounds and participated in discussion on difficult and complex patients. Since education is another important part of Arpan Global Charities goals, this trip was replete with didactic lectures and hands-on training for the doctors and other medical personnel in Alexandria. A scientific session was arranged by the Alexandria University department of anesthesia where two of the AGC team anesthesiologist, Drs. Michael Gropper and Errol Lobo from UCSF, gave four presentations. The nursing team members were equally involved in hands on teaching and training of the local NICU nurses. This gift of knowledge and training will serve the people of Alexandria for generations to come.
This mission also included daily visits to different orphanages where every orphan was examined by team pediatricians. Many of these orphans required treatment and referral for specialist opinion. The team members distributed clothes, toys and food to children in these orphanages.
The President of Alexandria University, Professor Hind Mamdouh Hanafy, and the dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Alexandria University, Professor Mahmoud Elzalabany, have expressed their desire to establish a formal educational affiliation between CHOC Children/UCI and Alexandria University Faculty of Medicine. The dialogue has already been initiated to work towards this affiliation.
Once again Arpan Global Charities lived up to its goals of providing free medical care to those who are medically underserved, of providing continuing education in the field of medicine to help promote self-sufficiency and of providing compassionate charity for the less fortunate.