MTRH, Global Surgeons Restore Hope as 14 Patients Receive Free Life-Changing Reconstructive Surgeries

Fourteen patients have regained hope and a renewed chance at life after undergoing free reconstructive surgeries during a five-day medical camp at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) in Eldoret.

The surgeries were conducted through a partnership between MTRH and the 2nd Chance Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Program, an international initiative that brings together plastic and reconstructive surgeons from across Europe and Africa to provide specialized surgical care while strengthening local medical expertise.

The beneficiaries, comprising both adults and children, received corrective procedures aimed at restoring function, improving appearance, and enhancing their quality of life. Many of the patients had been living with complex conditions that required specialized reconstructive surgery.

Speaking after the successful camp, Dr. Amanda Malungo, who co-led the local medical team alongside Dr. Alec Gonga, said the initiative had transformed the lives of the patients and their families.

"This year's medical camp successfully provided life-changing reconstructive surgeries to 14 patients, offering renewed hope and improved quality of life to individuals and their families," she said.

Beyond offering surgeries, the 2nd Chance Program focuses on building sustainable healthcare systems by training local surgeons, anaesthetists, nurses, and other healthcare professionals. The organization operates in 14 African countries, with volunteer plastic surgeons from 18 countries across Europe and Africa participating in the rotating program.

MTRH Chief Executive Officer Dr. Philip Kirwa said the hospital's Department of Plastic Surgery is among its fastest-growing specialties, reflecting the increasing demand for reconstructive services in Kenya and the wider East African region.

He reaffirmed the hospital's commitment to supporting vulnerable patients through its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme, noting that partnerships such as the one with 2nd Chance are expanding access to specialized healthcare that many patients would otherwise be unable to afford.

Dr. Kirwa said the collaboration is helping build sustainable local expertise while improving access to quality reconstructive surgical care across the region.

The international delegation was led by Swiss plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgeon Dr. Thomas Fischer, accompanied by Dr. Claudia Pia Fischlin, Chief Physician and Co-Head of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery in Switzerland. The team also included the program's Geneva-based Operations Manager, Emmanuel Cour.

The successful medical camp underscores the growing role of international partnerships in strengthening Kenya's healthcare system, while giving patients with complex reconstructive needs a second chance at healthier, more fulfilling lives.