EARTHWIDE SURGICAL FOUNDATION
2015 Summary
I would like to thank all our generous contributors. It
has been approximately 11 years since Earthwide Surgical Foundation was granted
501(C)(3) non-profit status by the Internal Revenue Service. I am very happy
with our progress towards achieving the Foundation’s goals, namely, to deliver
surgical care to the poor of the world by means of manpower, equipment and
education. The following are some of the highlights of the past year:
MISSION TRIPS
This year Dr. Camazine increased his time in Nigeria from 3
months to 4 months per year.
1.
On 1/2/15, Dr. Camazine returned to the Nigerian
Christian Hospital for a mission trip. During this 27 day trip, 10 Nigerian
upper level healthcare workers participated including Drs. Jombo, Acho,
Enyinnah, Akunikwe, Akpanudo, Madu, Nkeonye, Oje and Nurse Anesthetists, Wilson,
Uruakpa and Oje. Many nursing, medical and nurse anesthetist students were also
present. Over 750 patients were treated and 167 operations performed. All members
of the team were Nigerians except Dr. Camazine. This aspect of the trip is
quite unique and we were very proud to get such a strong local participation.
2.
On 5/3/15, Dr. Camazine returned to the Nigerian
Christian Hospital for a mission trip. During this 27 day trip, 10 Nigerian
upper level healthcare workers participated including Drs. Jombo, Acho,
Enyinnah, Akunikwe, Akpanudo, Madu, Oje and Nurse Anesthetists, Wilson, Uruakpa
and Oje. Many nursing, medical and nurse anesthetist students were also present.
Over 750 patients were treated and 156 operations performed. All members of the
team were Nigerians except Dr. Camazine. This aspect of the trip is quite
unique and we were very proud to get such a strong local participation.
3.
On 7/31/15, Dr. Camazine returned to the
Nigerian Christian Hospital for a mission trip. During this 7 day trip, 9
Nigerian upper level healthcare workers participated including Drs. Jombo,
Akunikwe, Akpanudo, Madu, Dabs, Oje and Nurse Anesthetists, Wilson, Uruakpa and
Oje. Many nursing, medical and nurse anesthetist students were also present.
Over 250 patients were treated and 58 operations performed. All members of the
team were Nigerians except Dr. Camazine. This aspect of the trip is quite
unique and we were very proud to get such a strong local participation.
4.
On 10/15/15, Dr. Camazine returned to the Nigerian
Christian Hospital for a mission trip. During this 42 day trip, 12 Nigerian
upper level healthcare workers participated including Drs. Jombo, Acho,
Nottidge, Onkeonye, Ifeanyi, Akunikwe, Akpanudo, Madu, Oje and Nurse
Anesthetists, Wilson, Uruakpa and Oje. Many nursing, medical and nurse
anesthetist students were also present. Over 1000 patients were treated and 200
operations performed. All members of the team were Nigerians except Dr.
Camazine. This aspect of the trip is quite unique and we were very proud to get
such a strong local participation. Several events were noteworthy during this
trip. The new bronchoscope was used on several occasions including removing a
fishbone from the trachea of a baby and diagnosing a acquired tracheoesophageal
fistula in a 1 year old. Dr. Camazine performed the first TRAM Flap at NCH to cover
a large wound following a radical mastectomy. Teleradiology via Dr. Hopens an
Melvin and was used on several occasions to make critical decisions.
PROJECTS
1.
Earthwide, with the assistance of Al Jones, MD,
is supporting the Bachelor of Science in Nursing training of Eric Oje. This advanced training will be completed this
year.
2.
Smart Uruakpa, RN, with the assistance of
Earthwide, has completed his nurse anesthetist training and is now working at
the Nigerian Christian Hospital. He is extremely talented and will make a great
assistant to Eric Oje, our current nurse anesthetist.
3.
Dr. Camazine has expanded the teaching
opportunities in Nigeria by introducing “Surgical Workshops”. These are hands
on teaching opportunities for Nigerian Surgeons and residents. Surgical
colleagues from many different parts of Nigeria have been invited to join the
team at the Nigerian Christian Hospital and learn from the unique surgical
pathology. Physicians from Delta, Benin, Abia, River, Enugu, and Anumbra States
have participated.
4.
Dr. Camazine, Eric Oje, RN, and Wilson Anyanwu,
RN, have expanded the teaching opportunities in Nigeria by introducing
“Anethesia Workshops-Anesthetic Techniques for the Complex and Unusual Patient”
These courses provide hands on teaching opportunities for Nigerian
anesthesiologists, nurse anesthetists and nurse anesthetist students. Eric and
Wilson are the best nurse anesthetist in Nigeria!
5.
Dr. Camazine continues his Blog on the work of
Earthwide Surgical Foundation. It can be seen at www.earthwidesurgicalfoundation.blogspot.com
6.
Earthwide Surgical Foundation, the Nigerian
Christian Hospital and the International Healthcare Foundation are starting a
further collaboration with Danny Milner, MD, pathologist at Harvard
University/Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Dr. Milner has been examining our
pathology specimens since 2009. He and his colleagues are interested in doing
research on Nigerian breast cancer. Drs. Jombo and Oje will also be involved.
7.
Dr. Milner evaluated NCH for a possible plan for
Telepathology, wherein microphotographs of pathology specimens will be emailed
to Dr. Milner for readings.
8.
Joy Nwokoma, RN continues the wound clinic we
started last year at NCH. She cares for all the leg ulcers, wounds and
ostomies.
9.
Eris Oje, Wilson Anyanwu (nurse anesthetists),
and Dr. Camazine, have started a pain clinic at NCH.
10.
Charlotte Jacobs, MD, oncologist at Stanford
University, has been a great help teleconsulting on our oncology patients.
11.
Charles Branch, MD, neurosurgeon at Wake Forest Baptist Health in
Winston-Salem, has been a great help teleconsulting on our neurosurgery
patients.
12.
John Melvin, MD,
radiologist at Henderson Memorial Hospital, has been a great help
teleconsulting on radiology issues concerning our patients.
13.
Louis Carter, MD, hand surgeon has been helping
with difficult hand problems that come up in Nigeria.
14.
Dr. Mennick, plastic surgeon, has been very
helpful in consulting on a difficult nasal tumor.
15.
Dr. Stephen S. Park, plastic surgeon, has been
very helpful in consulting on a difficult nasal tumor.
16.
Earthwide and the IHCF
(through the generosity of Hank Farrar, MD) purchased a portable dental unit
for NCH. This will open up a new specialty area. Dr. Ovie Nyerovwo, will be the
NCH consulting dentist.
17.
Earthwide purchased a
portable bronchoscope for NCH. This unit will aid in difficult intubations as
well as assist in diagnosing nasopharyngeal/tracheal/pulmonary pathology.
18.
The Nigerian Christian
Hospital, with the support of Earthwide, has expanded its treatment
possibilities by adding consultants in Urology (Dr. Achor), Orthopedic Surgery
(Dr. Nottidge), Plastic Surgery (Dr. Akunikwe), and Dentistry (Dr. Nyerovwo).
Specialties already present are Pediatric Surgery (Dr. Emem), OBGYN (Dr. Oje),
General/Thoracic/Head and Neck (Dr. Camazine) and Oncology (Dr. Jombo).
SUPPORT AND DONATIONS
1.
The employees at Good Shepherd Medical Center
(Longview, TX) donated medical equipment for the African trips.
2.
The employees at Longview Regional Medical
Center (Longview, TX) donated medical equipment for the African trips.
3.
The employees at Metroplex Adventist Hospital
(Killeen, TX) donated medical equipment for the African trips.
4.
The employees at ETMC Carthage Hospital
(Carthage, TX) donated medical equipment for the African trip.
5.
The employees at ETMC Pittsburg (Pittsburg, TX)
donated medical equipment for the African trips.
6.
The employees at ETMC Henderson (Henderson, TX)
donated medical equipment for the African trips.
7.
The
Merci Program (Medical Equipment Recovery of Clean Inventory), via Sandi
Luthie, of the University of Virginia Health System, donated valuable supplies
for our mission trip to Nigeria.
8.
Ethicon Inc. (via MAP International) donated a
huge amount of mesh and suture for hernia repairs, which were critical to the
success of our surgeries.
9.
Baxter (via Americares) supplied Floseal for
hemostasis for our difficult surgeries.
10. Friends of Ostomates
Worldwide-USA (FOW-USA) donated ostomy supplies for patients who require
ostomies. This is very important for these unfortunate patients since quality
ostomy supplies are either not available or very expensive in Nigeria.
11. Project
Save donated valuable surgical supplies, including staplers, mesh and
suture, for our Nigerian patients.
12. Erna
Winkler, RN, a previous traveler to NCH, collected valuable supplies that will
be used on our trips.
13. Delta
Airlines granted a baggage waiver for the May, 2015 trip that allowed Dr.
Camazine to bring 300 lb of supplies without additional costs.
14. Rosann
and Hermann Alexander continued to provided logistic support for Dr. Camazine
in Dallas, TX. Without their assistance, the humanitarian trips would have been
significantly more difficult.
15.
Vicki Jones, President/CEO of Women’s Health
Boutique in Longview, TX donated breast prostheses and postmastectomy bras for
breast cancer patients in Nigeria. Patients will be elated when they receive
these gifts.
16.
The International
Health Care Foundation continuously supplies Earthwide with equipment and
supplies.
17.
Bird and Cronin
donated Abdominal binders with drain fasteners for our mastectomy and hernia
patients.
18.
John Bradicich at US
Endoscopy donated needed GI supplies. These will greatly help with our GI
cases.
19.
Leah Sorenson at
Vectorsurgical provided a Silverstein Wrap for our breast patients.
20.
Bard Davol (via
Americares) donated critical hemostatic products for our dufficult cases in
Nigeria.
21.
Utah Medical donated
needed urological and gynecological instruments.
22.
CooperSurgical donated
retractors and other surgical equipment for our difficult cases in Nigeria.
23.
Joyce Newhouse donated
surgical mesh and other Ethicon products for our hernia patients.
24.
Integra LifeSciences
donated a skin grafting knife with blades for our reconstructive work.
25.
Standard Textile donated
12 beautiful surgical drapes to replace the ones we have which are falling
apart.
26.
Texas General Hospital
donated surgical supplies to Earthwide.
27.
W. Todd Allen, DVM,
donated surgical supplies to Earthwide.
28.
Ethicon Endo-Surgery/Johnson
& Johnson, Inc. granted TWO funding requests to earthwide for needed GI stapling devices for our gastrointestinal
work.
29.
Scanlon International
donated beautiful surgical instruments for our work in Nigeria.
30.
Earthwide received a
grant from Cook Medical to support the work at the Nigerian Christian Hospital
(purchase of bronchoscope)
31.
James Netterville, MD,
Head and Neck Surgeon at Vanderbilt University, purchased an AutoVent 2000
Ventilator for the work at NCH. This will be invaluable for the rare patient
that does not immediately wake up from anesthesia or the rare patient that
requires ventilatory support for a few days.
32.
Dolores Meeehan, who
alos works in Nigeria, donated surgical
supplies to Earthwide.
33. Earthwide
Surgical received donations from the following individuals:
1.
Josephs Anudokem
2.
John Bailey, DDS
3.
Beverly Barletta
4.
Justine Barletta
5.
Brian Camazine, MD
6.
Peggy Dorrell
7.
Hank Farrar, MD
8.
Cecil Fincher, MD
9.
Alan Freedman
10.
Ted Hopens, MD
11.
Charlotte Jacobs, MD
12.
Al Jones, MD
13.
Vicki Jones
14.
Pete Kaplan
15.
Sandie Luthie
16.
Brabara Maufas
17.
Robert Mahaffey, MD
18.
Jerry/Virginia Myhan
19.
James Netterville, MD
20.
Joyce Newhouse
21.
Carole Ortenzo
22.
Gurram Reddy, MD
23.
George Robertson
24.
Tim/Brigid Scanlon
25.
Patty Wilson, RN
26.
Erna Winkler
34. Earthwide Surgical received
donations from the following organizations:
1.
Americares (Cia Marion, Stephanie
Bertsch-Merbach, Tricia Gordon)
2.
Bard Davol (David Ricci)
3.
Bird and Cronin (Sharee Boutin)
4.
Cook Medical (Melissa Bottoms/Dane Trapkus)
5.
Cook Group Incorporated
6.
CooperSurgical (Jim Young)
7.
Ethicon Endo-Surgery/Johnson
& Johnson (Kim Lenahan)
8.
ETMC Carthage Hospital (Linda Nagle)
9.
ETMC Henderson (Sharon Bush)
10.
ETMC Pittsburg (Rob Terry)
11.
Friends
of Ostomates USA (FOW-USA) (Ruth Salinger)
12.
Good Shepherd Medical Center (Sharon Phillips)
13.
Integra LifeSciences (Gianna Sabella)
14.
International Health Care Foundation (Tom Carr)
15.
Longview Regional Medical Center (Kathy Diamond)
16.
MAP International (Anne Blount)
17.
Merci Program (Sandi Luthie)
18.
Merril Lynch (matching Pete Kaplan’s donation)
19.
Metroplex Adventist Hospital (Jose Ramirez)
20.
OPB Medical (Michael
Traub)
21.
Project Save (Janet Peck)
22.
Scanlan International
(Brigid/Tim Scanlon)
23.
Standard Textile
(Annie Weierman)
24.
Texas General Hospital
(Christie Fox)
25.
US Endoscopy (John
Bradicich)
26.
Utah Medical (Mark Fox)
27.
Vectorsurgical (Leah Sorenson)
28.
W. Todd Allen, DVM, Canine Specialty Surgery
29.
Women’s Health
Boutique (Vicki Jones)
AWARDS
1. On 1/2/15, Dr. Camazine was
reaffirmed by as Chief of Surgery at the Nigerian Christian Hospital.
2. On 6/15/15, Dr, Camazine
obtained his permanent Nigerian license
WHAT DO WE PLAN TO ACCOMPLISH?
1.
We will continue supporting the Bachelor of
Science in Nursing training of Eric Oje.
- We are intensifying our efforts to obtain needed
supplies and equipment. Many companies have been very generous.
- We will continue to branch out to additional areas in
Nigeria and the world that are in need of surgical assistance.
- We will continue our efforts to train future
generations of surgeons in Nigeria.
- Dr. Camazine formed a Google Group for people
interested in Earthwide Surgical Foundation and the Nigerian Christian
Hospital.
Brian Camazine, MD
President, Earthwide Surgical Foundation
1933 Eastwood Drive
Henderson, TX 75652
254-718-0659
www.earthwidesurgicalfoundation.blogspot.com