Second life for Medic instruments

Last year, I, Caroline Kuijper (former pediatric surgeon and pediatric urologist at EKZ Amsterdam), enthusiastically embarked on what they call a "medical mission" to Tajikistan and Peru. The Tajik mission was under the auspices of the Swiss organization "Swiss Medical Teams." For several years, they have been committed to supporting medical teams at the university hospital in Dushanbe, the capital of the former Soviet republic and independent since 1991, with new insights and resources. I traveled to Peru with my colleague Frank Froeling (former pediatric urologist from Haga Hospital in The Hague), anesthesiologist Gwan Kho, and anesthesia nurses Astrid and Heidi to Arequipa. Our destination: the children's hospital Paz Holandesa, founded by a passionate Rotterdam native, which provides free care to children born with cleft palate or spina bifida whose parents cannot afford (optimal) treatment.

And what could be more fun than "shopping" beforehand at Medic? Especially for a pediatric surgeon/pediatric urologist, it's like a candy store there in Apeldoorn: beautiful scissors, tweezers, needle holders, and clamps, which you can choose together with a Medic volunteer. Although they're all used, you can see that these instruments have been carefully selected and made usable again. And what a joy it is to arrive there in a foreign country and know that you at least have reliable instruments with you. At the end of the mission, you can safely donate those beautiful items to your colleagues there, because there's still plenty to be had at Medic. And the price is certainly worth it! Kudos to the Medic team and many thanks for your help and dedication!

Caroline Kuijper, pediatric surgeon/pediatric urologist