Marbella Plastic Surgeons "Give Back" by Operating on Africa’s Poorest

Ocean Clinic Marbella teamed with two local charitable organisations to carry out life-changing surgery on 25 children and adults in Kenya.

The clinic sent a team of six medical staff, led by Head Surgeon Dr. Kai Kaye, as part of its on-going mission to “give back”.

Dr. Kaye said: “It is necessary to give back and I have the skills and means to do so. At some point in life you have to put things in relation, and ask yourself if you can plant your own little grassroots to help, even on a small scale.

“I can change lives in Kenya and have much more impact than I can here in Spain, where nobody lacks basic medical services or care. I call it part of our social responsibility.”

The five-day Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Camp, follows a similar mission organised in Lamu, Kenya last year, and a trip to Peru in 2013.

This year, the team was able to assess 70 patients with medical conditions ranging from congenital malformations, tumours, burns and scars. They successfully treated a total of 45 patients, with 25 surgeries carried out.

Dr. Kaye was joined by fellow surgeon Dr. Richard Fakin from Switzerland. The team also included anesthetist Dr. Raimundo Escudero, nurses Louise Taylor and Marina Ristic and therapist Nicole Tascone, all from Ocean Clinic.

Says Dr. Kaye: “One of the highlights of this year’s camp was giving back extended leg mobility to a young girl called Maryam, who had a contracted knee after a burn. Now she will get physiotherapy and may have a chance of learning to walk again.”

The camp was made possible thanks to support from a number of partners and supporters. These included two local Spanish organisations working in Lamu; Anidan, which runs a shelter for orphans and abandoned children, and Foundation Pablo Horstman, which operates a hospital and two preschools.

Dr. Kaye offered his thanks to all those who donated to the mission, including Ms. Gisela Steinhoff and her husband for their generous donation of €1,000 Euros.

Ocean Clinic intends to run the camp again next Easter. People can support the 2018 campaign through financial donations, providing medical equipment and / or personal involvement. Please contact info@oceanclinic.net to get involved.