“
After an exploratory meeting at the Spronk family in Oenkerk, during which the members of
the team were able to get to know each other for the first time, we met again at the
Lufthansa desk at Schiphol airport for a flight, via Frankfort, to Abuja, the capital of the
Republic of Nigeria.
After we had installed ourselves on the connecting flight as a group at the back of the plane,
the cabin crew inquired curiously about what we were going to do in Nigeria. When we
explained that we were going to treat children with birth defects and burns for free, we
were showered with praise and received spontaneously upgrades, which we accepted in gratitude. „
Plastic Surgery Camp October 2017
“
After the disappointment that the mission of March 2017 was cancelled shortly before departure as the authorities had decided to renovate the landing-track of Abuja airport and as there were no suitable alternative flight paths, our humanitarian mission began on Saturday 7 October with a trip to Mangu, Plateau State, Nigeria.
We spent the night at the nuns’ after an excellent flight from Amsterdam via Frankfurt to Abuja.The next morning we continued our trip by car and got the first impressions of the country. The roads around Abuja are paved roads as we know them, but in theinlands the roads had many potholes, which required some knowledge of the terrain and needed expert driver’s skills. „
We spent the night at the nuns’ after an excellent flight from Amsterdam via Frankfurt to Abuja.The next morning we continued our trip by car and got the first impressions of the country. The roads around Abuja are paved roads as we know them, but in theinlands the roads had many potholes, which required some knowledge of the terrain and needed expert driver’s skills. „
Plastic Surgery Camp October 2018
“
In October 2018 a team of Plastic Surgeons travelled to Nigeria. The team existed of:
Plastic Surgeons: Cees Spronk, SjoerdKamminga, Chantal Moues
Plastic Surgeon (resident): Paul Bos
Anesthesiologist: JurjenOosterhuis
Assistant Anesthesiologist: Rob Eissens
Surgical Nurses: Fatima Ben Bouazza and Sandra van der Broek
Perioperative Nurse: Lisanne van der Warf
Trainee SocialWork: Megan van Klaveren
In total 111 patients were operated, of which 73 younger than 18 years old and 38 adults. For the larger part the operations regarded contractures, open burn wounds, tumors/keloids and a number of cleft surgeries.
Many patients were referred to an Orthopedist or to the mission in March 2019, when a PediatricUrologist will join us. We have already scheduled 60 patients for surgery. „
Plastic Surgeons: Cees Spronk, SjoerdKamminga, Chantal Moues
Plastic Surgeon (resident): Paul Bos
Anesthesiologist: JurjenOosterhuis
Assistant Anesthesiologist: Rob Eissens
Surgical Nurses: Fatima Ben Bouazza and Sandra van der Broek
Perioperative Nurse: Lisanne van der Warf
Trainee SocialWork: Megan van Klaveren
In total 111 patients were operated, of which 73 younger than 18 years old and 38 adults. For the larger part the operations regarded contractures, open burn wounds, tumors/keloids and a number of cleft surgeries.
Many patients were referred to an Orthopedist or to the mission in March 2019, when a PediatricUrologist will join us. We have already scheduled 60 patients for surgery. „
Plastic Surgery Camp October 2019
“
Our team existed of 4 newcomers and 4 veterans to Interplast Missions, led by chef de mission Cees Spronk.
A good mix of experience and curiosity.
Our journey started early morning October 5th. After the last messages using 4G in Germany, it felt like we
really had left. Halfway our flight from Frankfurt to Abuja, my neighbour, out of nowhere, started to talk.
We ended up having discussed the marriage of one of his 11 children he was going to organise in his native
village, his migration to the US, the purpose of our mission and a guarantee: “the people of Plateau state are
nice people, you will be welcomed and have a good time. God bless you and thank you for helping the
people of my country.” What a start. „
A good mix of experience and curiosity.
Our journey started early morning October 5th. After the last messages using 4G in Germany, it felt like we
really had left. Halfway our flight from Frankfurt to Abuja, my neighbour, out of nowhere, started to talk.
We ended up having discussed the marriage of one of his 11 children he was going to organise in his native
village, his migration to the US, the purpose of our mission and a guarantee: “the people of Plateau state are
nice people, you will be welcomed and have a good time. God bless you and thank you for helping the
people of my country.” What a start. „
Plastic Surgery Camp March 2019
“
For Suzanne, Gerben and me it was the first time that we went with Interplast. It was therefore very nice that we already had the necessary information in advance from the people who went more often. Moreover, there was also some uncertainty caused by the Nigerian elections, in the period prior to our departure. Fortunately, it became more quiet, and it was decided to continue our journey.
After a long flight via Frankfurt to Abuja, we arrived in the afternoon in Abuja, where Kefas already was waiting for us. We spent the night with the nuns in a nunnery near Abuja, so we didn’t have to travel at night.
„
After a long flight via Frankfurt to Abuja, we arrived in the afternoon in Abuja, where Kefas already was waiting for us. We spent the night with the nuns in a nunnery near Abuja, so we didn’t have to travel at night.
„
Plastic Surgery Camp October 2018 (Nigeria)
“
In October 2018 a team of Plastic Surgeons travelled to Nigeria.
In total 111 patients were operated, of which 73 younger than 18 years old and 38 adults. For the larger part the operations regarded contractures, open burn wounds, tumors/keloids and a number of cleft surgeries.
Many patients were referred to an Orthopedist or to the mission in March 2019, when a PediatricUrologist will join us. We have already scheduled 60 patients for surgery.
„
In total 111 patients were operated, of which 73 younger than 18 years old and 38 adults. For the larger part the operations regarded contractures, open burn wounds, tumors/keloids and a number of cleft surgeries.
Many patients were referred to an Orthopedist or to the mission in March 2019, when a PediatricUrologist will join us. We have already scheduled 60 patients for surgery.
„
Plastic Surgery Camp March 2018 (Nigeria)
“
There’s much to do for us. In all nearby churches and mosques the medical mission was advertised by Kefas, who describes himself as a nurse but in fact runs the entire hospital. The result of that work is waiting for us on Monday outside the outpatientsdepartment. That day we see a great variety of patients and fortunately we can schedule most of them foran operation in the next two weeks. „
Plastic Surgery Camp October 2017 (Nigeria)
“
So many serious burns. Children and adults falling into open fires or having boiling water over them. So much misery! In the consultation room there is a poster about the prevention-programme. Only twenty metersaway we see relatives of hospitalisedpatients cooking their meals on open fires onthe hospital site, while young children are walking between these fires. „
Plastic Surgery Camp February 2018 (Bangladesh)
“
The young doctors were very eager to learn and some of them assisted in suturing donorsites. To perform Z-plasties was instructed as well.
Overall, the operation programms went smoothly. We were aware of the burden for the local assistents related to the high numbers of patients per day. But mostly, we could end at six pm, so keeping a good mood. „
Overall, the operation programms went smoothly. We were aware of the burden for the local assistents related to the high numbers of patients per day. But mostly, we could end at six pm, so keeping a good mood. „