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In partnership with The Smiles
International Foundation, Chairman of Oral and Maxillofacial
Surgery at Boston Medical Center (BMC) and Boston University
School of Dental Medicine (BUSDM), Dr. Pushkar Mehra led a team
of select doctors, nurses and anesthesiologists from across the
United States on a charitable mission trip to Ukraine in May
2009. This mission site was initiated by Smiles International
Foundation in September 2005 and has held bi-annual clinics
since that time. A total of 21 children, ranging in age from
six months to nineteen years of age were treated on this trip.
In addition to the reconstructive surgeries performed, the team
completed over 40 consultations on other patients with
significant maxillofacial disorders. The team also brought
donated medical equipment to aid in the surgeries, which was
ultimately gifted to the local hospitals. Many of these
procedures served as demonstrations of modern techniques using
the donated surgical equipment.
Dr. Mehra points out that the working
conditions and equipment at Ukraine district hospitals are very
outdated as compared to US standards. There is an acute
shortage of medicines, surgical supplies, sutures, and
anesthesia equipment; even emergency medications and antibiotics
are not routinely available. There are no inhalational
anesthetics and no proper endotracheal tubes for young
children. EKG monitoring is not available for use either
intraoperatively or postoperatively, and there are no recovery
rooms or post anesthesia care units. The people of Ukraine are
very warm and friendly and the local doctors and
anesthesiologists have excellent skills. There is a need for
many more volunteer surgeons and anesthesiologists including
more modern medical equipment to strengthen this program.
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