Monrovia – The Mission Director of Rotaplast International based in the United States of America, Tom Fox, has disclosed that the mission is in Liberia to change the lives of Liberian children, who are suffering from various deformities.
Mr. Fox said the deformities which as cleft lip or cleft palate and burn scaring which could have damaged these children without the needed interventions.
He told journalists at the start of the free medical surgeries at the St. Joseph Catholic Hospital in Cong Town, that the mission will basically carry out operation on children with cleft lip or cleft palate, burn scaring and other deformities on children from three months to three years.
“Rotaplast International started this initiative 25 years ago and we are being supported by the Rotary Club in the country of our operation, so we are here in Liberia to put smiles on children who will be selected to undergo the various surgeries’, Mr. Tom pointed out.
Also speaking to journalists, Karla Werninghaus, a member of the 21 –man medical team, said Rotaplast International continues to play a vital role in the growth of every society and Liberia is no exception.
Dr. Werninghaus: “The mission is in Liberia to conduct series of essential operations during our nine days visit and talking about operation that will benefit the people who parents and guardians cannot afford the cost of such surgeries”.
The free medical surgery initiative which got underway Monday, August 13 will end on Thursday, August 23. It being done in partnership with Rotary Clubs in Liberia, and with support from the Liberia Medical and Dental Council (LMDC) and the Liberia Board of Nursing and Midwifery (LBNM).
For his part, the Hospital Director of the St. Joseph Catholic Hospital, Peter L. Daweh, stated that the free medical surgery by Rotaplast International is the second of such initiative to be done in Liberia in collaboration with Rotary Clubs in Liberia.
Mr. Daweh recounted that in 2013, Rotaplast International conducted its first humanitarian work in Liberia on over 85 children and adults.
Speaking earlier, Rotary Club of Monrovia, Immediate Past President, Monique Cooper – Liverpool, said the Rotary Clubs in Liberia were proud to be a part of the partnership that is aimed at helping ordinary Liberia.
Madam Liverpool, however described the mission as the biggest surgical mission since the Ebola ended in in the country barely three years ago.
The Past Assistant Governor of District 9101, A. Nadu Cooper, said since the formation, the Rotary Club has worked in addressing many social issues.
“Rotary Club has over the years worked with the World Health Organization (WHO) in different projects to eradicate diseases around the world, the latest is polio”, Madam Cooper narrated.
The Rotary Clubs in Liberia that are partnering with Rotaplast International in the United States includes Sinkor, Harper, Monrovia and Gbarnga Clubs.
Rotaplast International is committed to helping children and families worldwide by eliminating the burden of cleft lip or cleft palate, burn scaring and other deformities.
The organization (Rotaplast) was founded 1992 by Dr. Angelo Capozzi and the then Rotary Club President, Peter Lagarias in collaboration with the Rotary Club of San Francisco to facilitate a surgical program in La Serena, Chile to treat children with cleft lip and cleft palate anomaly who would otherwise not receive surgical intervention. This initial historic mission took place January of 1995.
Working with local professionals, Rotarians and organizations, Rotaplast send multidisciplinary medical teams to provide free reconstruction surgery, ancillary treatment and training for comprehensive care of these children.
Rotaplast supports education and research towards prevention of cleft lip or cleft palate.
Its aim is also to help local professionals build sustainable models for the care of these children, improving their lives and those of their families.