INTERPLAST Surgical Program to Tarawa KIRIBATI in May 2024

Interplast is a wonderful medical charity, which not only provides surgical care, but trains clinicians, in 17 Asia-Pacific countries. It is most worthy of the support of Rotary Clubs, as Interplast was co-founded by Rotary in 1983.

 

This year, Interplast has asked for our help to fund a surgical program to Tarawa in KIRIBATI. The team of volunteers is currently scheduled to visit Kiribati in May 2024. 

 

Interplast has delivered over 30 programs in Kiribati. We have been training local medical personnel since 1986, as well as providing plastic and reconstructive surgery for patients who otherwise would have no way of accessing this life-changing care.

Interplast is a wonderful medical charity, which not only provides surgical care, but trains clinicians, in 17 Asia-Pacific countries. It is most worthy of the support of Rotary Clubs, as Interplast was co-founded by Rotary in 1983.

 

This year, Interplast has asked for our help to fund a surgical program to Tarawa in KIRIBATI. The team of volunteers is currently scheduled to visit Kiribati in May 2024. 

Interplast has delivered over 30 programs in Kiribati. We have been training local medical personnel since 1986, as well as providing plastic and reconstructive surgery for patients who otherwise would have no way of accessing this life-changing care.

 

Interplast volunteer teams in Kiribati have treated conditions including cleft lips and palates, burn scar contractures, tumours, traumatic injuries and other congenital and acquired conditions.

Interplast’s last visit to Kiribati was in June 2019. Due to travel restrictions during the Covid-19 pandemic, plans for future visits had to be cancelled until our volunteer teams could travel internationally again.

 

Interplast is now planning to return to Kiribati in May 2024. 

Generous donations from Rotary Clubs in District 9920 will enable patients to receive the life-changing surgery they have been desperately waiting for. Many of these patients waiting for Interplast to return are children.

 

The funding provided by our district will help children living with congenital defects such as cleft lips or palates, who not only suffer from disfigurement, but are also often malnourished, as they cannot eat or drink normally.

Their speech is often difficult to understand, and they and their families also often endure stigma and bullying because of the child’s physical appearance.

 

The goal is to raise $40,000 to fund Plastic and Reconstructive surgeries, and associated care, for Kiribati patients. Approximately $2,000 will pay for the surgery and post-operative care for 1 patient.