Guatemala Mission 2022
Our return to providing Orthopaedic, Dental and Pedorthic care in Antigua, Guatemala
Operation Walk Canada's return to Antigua, Guatemala was a successful and much-needed mission.
Our two year absence due to the pandemic, raised the issue of how important our work is for patients and their families who endure mobility challenges and restrictions. In four days, our dedicated, volunteer team provided 61 patients with a total of 76 joint replacements, which included bilateral hip and knees.
Hermano Pedro Hospital has undergone a series of upgrades during our hiatus, which include 3 new operating rooms, renovations to 2 existing operating rooms and pre and post operative areas, instrument processing area updates and the installation of 2 new autoclaves, 1 fully donated by Operation Walk Canada and the other partially funded by our group. The improvements facilitate a more efficient flow for patient care and as well as instrument cleaning and sterilizing. And, while the rest of the world hibernated during the pandemic, this outstanding group of hospital staff reorganized and transformed all areas of the hospital – improvements which we know are the start of many more to come and which will help us achieve our goal of helping as many patients as we can during our visit.
This year we were fortunate to be joined by two Dentists, who provided extractions, fillings, crowns and fluoride treatments to 66 young patients, as well as, valuable instruction and supplies to promote dental care and hygiene following our visit.
Our Pedorthist, provided treatment and mechanical assessments, along with exercises to reduce foot pain and improve muscular strength for adults and children. Various supports, lifts and customized footwear modifications were provided to 37 patients to allow for pain-free movement and improved mobility.
To date, Operation Walk Canada has provided a total of 992 hip and knee replacement surgeries to patients in Guatemala.
Our work is not possible without the on-going generosity of our donors and sponsors who continue to support Operation Walk Canada Missions - we are grateful. And a tremendous thank you to our team of devoted health professionals who volunteer their time and expertise to provide life-changing procedures to patients. The gratitude from patients the very next day following surgery, as they are up and moving with the assistance of our Nursing and Physiotherapy teams is overwhelming. The smiles and extended thank yous shared by patients and their families speaks volumes to their future with renewed mobility and hope.
