In an article first published by ASSIST News Service, KENNETH D MacHARG writes about the amazing work of the Moore Pediatric Surgery Center in Guatamala City…
Dr Ligia Figueroa was speaking with a visitor when an associate knocked on her office door. Invited to enter-the colleague presented her with a beautiful vase of fresh-cut roses.
“These are from a patient’s mother. She wanted to give them to you as a way to say thank you.”
Such a humble expression of thanks as a payment for the surgery a child received is common at the Moore Pediatric Surgery Center in this sprawling Central American city.
“They don’t have to give us anything-but they try to say thank you with what they have or produce or sell. We have received fresh bread-eggs and other products,” she reflected.
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Dr Ligia Figueroa enjoys flowers sent by the family of a child who received treatment at the center. There is no charge for medical services at the clinic-but many families find a way to express their appreciation PICTURE: Dr Kenneth D MacHarg. “For many of our patients the Moore Center is the last resource. When we see parents knock on the door-we cannot tell them no.”– Dr Ligia Figueroa-medical director of the Moore Pediatric Surgery Center in Guatemala |
Dr Figueroa is the medical director of the hospital that is owned and operated by The Shalom Foundation-a Christian organisation in Nashville-Tennessee.
The clinic treats hundreds of children each year for medical problems such as tonsils-adenoids-cleft-palete-club feet-poor eyesight-tooth decay and muscular/skeletal issues.
The facility has performed over 3,000 surgeries free of charge since it opened in 2011.
The medical director was born in Guatemala and trained at a medical school in Cuba before taking a pediatric position at Juan Pablo Segundo Hospital in the capital city. She assumed her responsibilities at the Moore clinic three and a half years ago.
Her work involves overseeing the legal operation of the hospital under Guatemalan law and practices-and taking care of patients. While fulfilling her official duties-she said that she makes rounds with the visiting doctors every day during a week of surgery.
The facility operates differently than a general hospital found in any city world-wide. It specialises in children’s surgery and functions only when a visiting team of doctors from outside the country arrives to donate services at no cost to the patients.
“We’re not an open hospital that treats walk-in emergencies,” Dr Figueroa explained. “And-there are certain illnesses that we don’t treat such as heart problems-cancer-transplants or intensive care patients.”
She pointed out that a municipal hospital is located just three blocks from the Moore clinic and those who seek emergency help are referred there.
But-the clinic does serve a unique purpose in a country with a shortage of surgical opportunities.
Dr Figueroa pointed to gaps in the country’s medical system that make the Moore facility crucial to serving children. “Our public hospitals are limited,” she said. “In addition-90 per cent of all Guatemalans can’t afford private hospitalisation and the social security (insurance) system covers employed people only and limits its treatment of children to those under seven.”
“For many of our patients the Moore Center is the last resource. When we see parents knock on the door-we cannot tell them no.”
The hospital remains busy even when a visiting surgical team is not present. Guatemalan specialists are available to pre-screen children who apply for surgical procedures to determine if the visiting physicians will be able to help a specific problem. These specialists also oversee post-operative and follow-up care.
Dr Figueroa says-she is in the right place. “We are giving hope here,” she said.
“Last year an eleven-year-old came with cleft feet (a condition also known as a club foot. It is a congenital deformity in which the affected foot appears to have been rotated internally at the ankle. Without treatment-people with club feet often appear to walk on their ankles or on the sides of their feet). His dream was to dance,” she said.
“He came from a town in the mountains and had to travel 35 minutes by boat-then walk 45 minutes to the bus and ride from there two hours to Coban and another six hours to Guatemala City.”
“He was happy with the success of surgery on his first foot,” Dr Figueroa reported-“but after the surgery on his second foot-he did a dance and a show and said-‘You made my dream.’”
She also remembers a child who-after eye surgery-turned to his mother and exclaimed-“Mom-I didn’t know I could see you.”
“I can see God’s hand in each story that we have here,” she said. “Our mission is one of compassion-passion and love. We impact not only a child’s health-but their life. After being here-they have a place in the world.”
The Moore Pediatric Surgery Center receives teams of surgeons throughout the year for one-week sessions. Some are sent by medical practices or hospitals-while others are put together by the foundation from individual doctors who volunteer.
In addition-teams of non-medical volunteers are recruited to provide comfort and support to patients and their families.
