REDUCING UNMET NEED FOR SPECIALTY SURGERY
At IOWD, we recognize the real burden endured by patients and their families when safe and affordable surgical care is not easily accessible. Our short-term surgical outreach model is designed to help underserved women and children in low-income countries overcome two major barriers to accessing specialty surgical services: availability of surgical specialists and cost. We work closely with our governmental and non-governmental partners to align our programs with set national goals and to integrate our specialty surgical services within the existing health system. Educating local providers is central to our mission and key to ensuring the sustainability of our programs. We are proud to be part of the global response to reduce unmet need for surgical services in underserved communities and the opportunity to make lasting impact in the lives of our patients.
PEOPLE WORLDWIDE WHO LACK ACCESS TO SAFE SURGERY AND ANESTHESIA
5 BILLION
PEOPLE IN LOW & MIDDLE-INCOME COUNTRIES WHO LACK ACCESS TO BASIC SURGERY
90%
PROPORTION OF SURGICAL PROCEDURES PERFORMED IN LOW-INCOME COUNTRIES
6%
Source: Lancet Commission on Global Surgery
While surgical capacity is developed, local and international NGOs can play an important part in care delivery. When using a measured approach consistent with the local needs, culture, and context, NGOs can strengthen the system by assisting local clinicians to tackle the backlog of unmet need, integrating with local training programmes, and enhancing local infrastructure. We propose an expansion of coordinated, demand-driven international surgical support aimed to address the unmet burden of surgical disease.
- Lancet Commission on Global Surgery
IOWD IN ACTION
SAFE ADVANCED SURGERY
QUALITY POSTOPERATIVE CARE
DIDACTIC INSTRUCTION
CLINICAL EDUCATION
INTEGRATING QUALITY PROCESSES
BUILDING STRONG PARTNERSHIPS
EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH FOR PATIENTS AND FAMILIES
FURNISHING AND MAINTAINING EQUIPMENT IN OUR HOST FACILITIES
EXPLAINING EXAMINATION PROCEDURES TO PATIENTS
EDUCATING PATIENTS ABOUT SELF-CARE AFTER SURGERY
