Kids Operating Room (KidsOR) believe in a world where every child can access safe surgery. To achieve this mission, they install operating theatres for children and provide specialised training to local surgeons.
Formally established in 2018, KidsOR have installed over 70 operating rooms in hospitals across Africa Latin America and South Asia, thereby creating the capacity to realise timely, affordable, safe, and quality paediatric surgical care for over 100,000 children. Their goal is to enable the next 100,000 life-changing operations by 2025.
Maíra Fedatto, Director of Research & Advocacy at KidsOR, spoke to us about their critical role in scaling up surgical systems in LMICs.
“It’s very important to highlight that today 1.75 billion children don’t have access to surgery and the majority of these children are in low-income countries. So, when you invest in surgery, you are also supporting the path towards reducing inequality.”
Maira Fedatto
Spotlight on: Kenya
Maíra told us that safe surgical care is not always a possibility for children living in refugee settings. Together with the UN Refugee Agency, the International Rescue Committee, and the Biltema Foundation, KidsOR installed the world’s first children’s operating room in Kenya’s Kakuma Refugee Camp. This is the world’s largest and most established refugee camp, with a population which includes around 40,000 children.
Led by Kenyan paediatric surgeon Neema Kaseje, the theatre is expected to care for around 1000 children every year. To construct the operating room, KidsOR shipped over 3000 components to Kenya. This proved more challenging than initially anticipated due to recent supply chain interruptions caused by the pandemic and other global events.
“Refugees’ health profile is markedly singular. Paediatric populations have particularly high rates of burns, trauma, and orthopaedic injuries. And while being and staying healthy is a fundamental right of every human being, refugees are a commonly forgotten population in health strategies.”
Maira Fedatto
The 100km journey for surgery
Without access to safe, quality and timely surgical care, children are at risk of experiencing lifelong disability or death from treatable conditions. Maíra shared a story of a mother and daughter who walked 100km to the operating room in Kakuma, the only way they could access surgical care. After receiving surgery, the child was able to attend school for the first time. There is a questionless link amongst good health and quality education. KidsOR collects data to understand the relation between surgical conditions and school absence. Out of nearly 2000 patients aged between 4 and 18 who underwent procedures in their operating theatres, a notable 34% were not attending school, with 51% of these cases attributed to their surgical conditions.
“When surgical needs are properly met, not only can children attend school regularly, but it also reduces social stigma, bullying, and social exclusion.”
Maira Fedatto
Listen to the locals
“To have an impact you need to listen to what people want and need. I can install an amazing operating room, but if I don’t talk to anyone, it might be in a place that people can’t reach.”
Maira Fedatto
Maíra told us that KidsOR won’t install an operating room until they first understand the priorities of the people it’s intended to help. By listening to local communities, governments and the surgical workforce, KidsOR are able to build contextual understanding which maximises the impact of their work.
“Something that works in Malawi might not work in Kabul or Ecuador. There could be other barriers that hamper access. Without an understanding of the context, you might not be helping.”
Maira Fedatto