WPP craniofacial team wraps up visit to SVG

Eighteen children were seen last week by a craniofacial team from the World Pediatric Project (WPP) which visited St Vincent from January 20 to 25.

The team, which was led by pediatric plastic and craniofacial surgeon Dr Jennifer Rhodes of The Children’s Hospital of Richmond at Virginia Commonwealth University, conducted craniofacial assessments, surgery and care on children up to the age of 21 years old.

Their focus was to provide care for children with complex head and facial anomalies and to follow up cases of children seen by previous teams. The team also included anesthesiologist Dr Seamus Dore as well as plastic surgeon Dr Franklin Lew and Operating Room nurse Molly McCabe.  

Of the 18 children seen in the clinic on January 20, seven received surgical care. The team mainly operated on birth defects to the face and head, particularly cleft lip and palate.

“The children of St Vincent and the Grenadines and the Eastern Caribbean continue to benefit from the kindness, dedication, love and support of WPP and its drive to heal as much children as possible,” a release from the WPP said.

“It’s such a fantastic and well run program and the most rewarding part is getting to see the families and children do well from their surgeries,” said Dr Rhodes, who has been working with WPP for about 10 years; this is her second trip to St Vincent.

“The thoughtfulness with which they develop their programs and how they are so careful to really  look at the communities they are working in and try and do what the community feels is most important,” is what she loves best about the WPP, Dr Rhodes said.

A cardiology diagnostic mission being led by Dr Moskowitz is slated for January 31and February 2.

The visit of the WPP was conducted in collaboration with the Ministry of Health Wellness and the Environment.

Parents and guardians of children who may need to be assessed are asked to contact the WPP office at 784-451-2989 for more information.