First SAWUBONA Mission to Mombasa (Kenia) 2021

In August 2021, it was time. After the successful launch of our SAWUBONA Foundation, we were excited to get the opportunity to come to #Mombasa for our purposes. Previously we established a special connection to #BenjaminOkanga - the local head of the neurosurgical department in the County General Hospital. What a calm and generous man!

Dr. Ben Okanga

Within the planning phase, several meetings had been necessary to overcome many hurdles during Covid-19-Pandemia. However, all participants did their best to harvest instruments, bandages, surgical equipment, clothes, and more for the upcoming mission. Since all equipment was financed privately, resources were limited. Nevertheless, we purchased a wireless, portable ultrasound device from #Clarius for pediatric transcranial diagnostics!!! When all flights and stays were booked, it was time to start our journey. Everyone managed to arrive alive (although there had been some difficulties and whatsoever). In the end, we were welcomed by warm temperatures and a slightly cloudy sky.

But there was little time to rest. #BenOkanga and #JoachimOertel already scheduled the first patients for our pre-surgical outpatient visit. So after deposing our luggage, we went straight to the hospital to visit a total of 26 patients. We also met lots of members of the local neurosurgical department - willing to join us on our Sunday round.

We saw the full spectrum of neurosurgical conditions, including pediatric hydrocephalus cases, pediatric malformation cases, brain tumour cases, infection cases and degenerative spinal cases. After examination and sighting radiological studies, the surgical schedule was set for the upcoming week.

Without exception, all of the locals welcomed us in a very heartful way. We were served excellent food, and typical black tea with milk was available at all times. It didn't take long to establish a comfortable atmosphere to work in. Although almost all organisations were carried out in different ways compared to Germany, all planned surgeries were performed successfully. And in between, there was enough time to have interesting conversations on the Kenyan culture and local habits.

Besides the social aspects, many surgeries have been performed. Several children underwent the implantation of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt or endoscopic third ventriculostomy. We also performed surgery in three cases of complex myelomeningo- or encephalocele. In addition, we could perform educational transcranial ultrasound examinations in hydrocephalic patients using our portable ultrasound device for bedside testing.

In adult patients, lumbar decompression and fusion, facet-joint degeneration, as well as intracranial tumours have been treated surgically. One emergency case of subdural empyema in a very young patient could be operated on successfully. In the end, our joint efforts resulted in favourable results.

Postoperative intensive care was provided by the local staff of the anaesthesiologic department. In this context, our very experienced active member #DrDorotheaMünchen was able to support treatments concerning hemodynamic and sedation management, postoperative pain treatment and neurosurgical surveillance. We are expecting lots of improvements in the ICU for even more effective postoperative care in the future.

At the end of the week, we experienced a heartfelt farewell organised by #BenOkanga and the hospital director. Eventually, it was a wonderful experience, and most of the tasks worked out even better than expected. We are looking forward to coming again, Mombasa! -FT