Kingstown, St. Vincent & the Grenadines – On Sunday, February 12th 2023, World Pediatric Project (WPP) hosted another dual mission in St. Vincent at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital with both Ophthalmology and Plastic Surgery teams. This current mission is made possible through the kind support and sponsorship of the Maria Holder Memorial Trust who remains committed to ensure no Vincentian child is left behind with access to consistent specialist care and treatment provided by WPP. Clinic day resulted in the Ophthalmology team assessing 45 children with 17 scheduled surgeries throughout the week while the Plastic Surgery team saw 34 children with 15 scheduled for surgery. Of the total number of children seen, there were 5 regional patients, 2 from St. Lucia and 3 from St. Kitts.
WPP continues to work assiduously to ensure that no child is left behind in receiving critical medical care, not only in SVG and the region but the world over and continues to devise strategic mechanisms to reach as many children as possible. After a hiatus for about two years due to COVID, the teams were elated to be back and get to work. Ophthalmology was headed by Pediatric Ophthalmologist and WPP board member, Dr. Donna Brown. With her was CRNA, Mary O’Hanley, Surgical Technician, Marilyn Bagen and OR Nurse, Lisa Sizemore. Plastic surgery was led by Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Nadia Blanchet. With her was Plastic surgery resident, Dr. Jonathan Miller, Anesthesiologist, Dr. Jay Stone and CRNA, Nancy Stelling. The teams also comprised of local support from Pediatric surgeon, Dr. Jasmine Ellis and Ophthalmologist, Dr. Charisse Grant-Ledger as well as support from the MCMH staff and nurses. Dr. Blanchet said “It was a bit disappointing not being able to see the children but this is something I’ve been doing for years and I am happy to be back on the ground doing what I love.”
The next upcoming WPP team will be Physical Therapy slated for April 16th – 22nd 2023. Individuals interested in supporting the work of WPP can contact the local office at 784-451-2989.