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Blog post
Wednesday 11 September 2024

Southampton Children's Hospital Team Brings Life-Changing Care to Children with Disabilities in Eswatini

We’re very proud of a small team from Southampton Children’s Hospital (SCH) who recently dedicated their own time and expertise to travel to Eswatini, Africa, to provide life-changing care for children living with disabilities.

Their work has not only improved the health of these children but has transformed their lives and the lives of their families.

The multidisciplinary team was made up of consultant paediatric orthopaedic surgeons, Matthew Barry and Alexander Aarvold, specialist paediatric physiotherapist Catherine May, occupational therapist Georgia Richards, and paediatric orthopaedic advanced clinical practitioner, Katie Watts.

Young Nkosingvile pre and post op
Young Nkosingvile pre and post op

It was very humbling to see the immense challenges faced by patients in a low-resource healthcare setting. We were so pleased to be able to make a positive impact on their challenging young lives.

The team’s work was profound. From helping young children to stand and walk for the first time, to providing corrective surgery on the legs of young girls who had previously been excluded from their village due to their bone deformities. These were the first ever corrective operations performed on disabled children in this country.

Young Mncobi pre and post op
Young Mncobi could only crawl before his operation.

It’s incredible what can be achieved with very little resources. The support and education being provided to families and communities has already made a real difference.

Operating in theatre at the Good Shepherd Hospital in Eswatini
Operating in theatre at the Good Shepherd Hospital in Eswatini
Four year old, Sivekelwe pre and post op
Four year old, Sivekelwe, had severe bow legs from an underlying bone deformity called Blount’s Disease. Following the operation she has been able to return to her village from which she was previously excluded.

We’re incredibly proud of our staff’s commitment to making a difference - both abroad and at UHS. 💙