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The Choithram Memorial Hospital is currently facilitating free surgeries by specialized German Surgeons for needy Sierra Leoneans at the hospitalโs facilities at Hill Station in Freetown.
The experts include plastic surgeons, hand/trauma surgeons, anesthetists, anesthetist nurses, physiotherapists, and mouth and facial surgeons who conducted the operations on needy patients and pass on knowledge to local doctors.
This team would also leave behind medical equipment worth US$15,000, which the leader of the team, Dr Lutz Gruhl said was of urgent need for the country. He added that the equipment can be operated by Sierra Leonean medical practitioners, saying it is not quite sophisticated.
Plastic Surgeon, Dr Gruhl has vast experience working in Africa following services in Tanzania, Madagascar, and Mali.
Meanwhile, the work of these plastic surgeons includes improving the quality of life in people who experience severe injuries, life-changing illnesses, and congenital defects, according to Dr Gruhl. These surgeons also specialize in cosmetic surgery to improve appearance for aesthetic purposes.
Upon arrival at the hospital, the team screened over 300 patients following the announcement of the service. The doctors proceeded on to select 120 patients for the operations following the screening.
By Monday, 63 unique cases of high-quality plastic surgeries had been completed in areas such as post-trauma road accidents and burns in the past. This team was also in the country in 2023 when they performed several free operations facilitated by Choithram Hospital and initiated by Sierra Leoneโs Ambassador to Germany, Dr M’Baimba Lamin Baryoh.
Speaking at a press briefing at the hospital on Monday, the Head of Choithram, Harish Agnani announced that all patients were treated with no-cost to them, as free food, and rooms provided at the hospital were paid for by Choithram and its partners. โThe doctors have the specialties; we have the facilitiesโฆ Our hospital staff also provides aftercare services to ensure that the patients are well taken care of.โ
Elsewhere, Mr Agnani hailed the Sierra Leone Ambassador to Germany, His Excellency MโBaimba Lamin Baryoh who initiated and facilitated the coming of the doctors.
The team: Dr. med. Lutz Gruhl – Plastic Surgeon, Dr. med. Bernd Heidemann – Hand/Trauma-Surgeon, Dr. med. Olaf Weigt – Anesthetist, Dr. med. Karolina Lischka – Anesthetist, Dr. med. Franziska von Sievers – Plastic Surgeon, Mr. Nikolaus Brunner – Anesthetic Nurse, Mrs. Andrea Schmidt – Anesthetic Nurse, Mrs. Monika Schรคter – Physiotherapist, Dr. Friedrich Matthaei – Mouth and Facial surgeon, Dr. Eric Wongo
