Carinthian doctors save life in Nigeria: Surgical help for the needy!

Carinthian doctors save life in Nigeria: Surgical help for the needy!

A remarkable medical use of Carinthian doctors took place in Nigeria in November, where the team of the Medical Impulse association carried out around 43 free operations. The doctors, under the direction of child surgeon Christoph Arneitz, traveled with 16 suitcases full of medical relief supplies to the 3,000-inhabitant location Umuowa. This was concentrated on children, women and adolescents who often suffered from extreme conditions, such as the lack of running water during vital interventions, which were carried out in most cases in a form of regional anesthesia, as anesthesist Teresa reported. These extraordinary circumstances had to be overcome in order to give patients the necessary help. Doctors and patients praised the gratitude and joy they were shown when Arneitz and his team were given traditional gifts.

Support for women in refugee camps

parallel to the humanitarian missions for medical care in Nigeria, Maltese is involved internationally for refugee women and girls who live in camps and are often exposed to special dangers there. Over 110 million people are fleeing worldwide, many of them women who are often confronted with sexual violence. In order to offer protection and support, the Maltese in 2021 opened several safe rooms in refugee camps where women like Fatuma can receive psychosocial help. In these rooms, those affected have the opportunity to exchange ideas and find help without having to be afraid of stigmatization or reprisals. Fatuma reported that these initiatives have significantly declined violence against women and that women receive the necessary support to strengthen their resilience. Here you not only get psychological help, but also access to vocational training, which enables you to emancipate yourself from your family.

The different approaches to support the vulnerable groups in Nigeria - both through medical help and by promoting women in refugee camps - are an expression of the urgent need to help these people in difficult situations. The Carinthian doctors and the initiatives of Malteser International show an example of how targeted help can change life.

These reports give an insight into the challenges and the commitment to improve the life situation in a country where the average life expectancy is only 54 years, while 111 out of 1,000 newborns die before their fifth birthday, according to the World Bank.

Carinthia today reported on the extraordinary commitment of the doctors, while Malteser International emphasizes the significant support for women in refugee camps.