Experienced Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeon, Chester Sharps, has applauded the state of health care for children in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Describing it as “terrific”, the Richmond Virginia-based surgeon told SEARCHLIGHT HEALTH that it was encouraging to note that children are immunized and have access to good nutrition.{{more}}

Dr. Sharps was part of the 12-member International Hospital for Children team that visited St. Vincent and the Grenadines on a seven-day pediatric orthopedics surgical mission from August 5 to 12. The non-profit organization has been making several trips to St. Vincent and the Grenadines as part of an ongoing Rotary Club South initiative.

When he spoke to SEARCHLIGHT HEALTH, Sharps said that with a population of barely above 100,000 persons, it is virtually impossible for the St. Vincent and the Grenadines market to be able to retain “someone with the super expertise to do the weird, complicated things that I do”. Explaining that he has an area with a population of over three million persons to work with, Sharps identified this as the reason why he has been able to harness his expertise in Pediatric Orthopedics. He had high praise for local Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Charles Wood, who he says could handle 98% of the work load in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. “There are just the few, highly complicated cases, and that’s where we come in,” explained Sharps.

As for the general cause of the severe orthopedics concerns, Dr. Sharps explained that while some malfunctions are caused by accidents, it is simply a case of “bad luck” or “lightning striking”. While in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr. Sharps operated on children with crooked feet, very bowed legs, club feet and children with fingers which were joined together, and overall, was very excited about the successes he and the team achieved on this visit.

When asked to compare Pediatric Orthopedics to that of general orthopedics, Sharps told SHEARCHLIGHT HEALTH that in his opinion his area is the more difficult field of practice of the two. In his elucidation, Sharps made reference to the fact that children have growing plates growing in their bones “so you have to be careful and know where they are, but adults’ growing plates are all closed.”