CBM Orthopaedic Surgeon Awarded OBE
"Ten years of work in Malawi were worthwile!"
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- Professor Chris Lavy said: "Ten years of work in Malawi were worthwile!" © CBM
CBM UK surgeon Professor Chris Lavy has been made an OBE for Services to orthopaedic care in Africa. Chris has been working in Malawi for 10 years with CBM. Chris is a Senior Research Fellow and Honorary Professor at Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre, Oxford, UK, and serves as CBM-advisor for orthopaedic surgery, physiotherapy and orthopaedic workshops.
In Africa, the initial focus of his work was with trauma and children's limbs. His wife Vicky, a graduate in medicine from Gonville and Caius College Cambridge, also set up a palliative care centre for chronically ill children in the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Blantyre, Malawi. They have three children.
"We saw children with legs so bowed that their buttocks touch their ankles and spines so twisted that their chest and pelvis faced different directions," said Chris Lavy.
In Africa, the initial focus of his work was with trauma and children's limbs. His wife Vicky, a graduate in medicine from Gonville and Caius College Cambridge, also set up a palliative care centre for chronically ill children in the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Blantyre, Malawi. They have three children.
"We saw children with legs so bowed that their buttocks touch their ankles and spines so twisted that their chest and pelvis faced different directions," said Chris Lavy.
In 1996 there were no other surgeons in Malawi
When he arrived in Malawi in 1996, there were no other orthopaedic surgeons, so he helped re-establish a training programme for orthopaedic clinical officers. This is the backbone of Malawi's trauma service, as the country's district hospitals have no surgeons, and some have no doctors at all. Although there was an existing medical school - it did not have any postgraduate orthopaedic trainees.
Within 6 years, Chris had initiated building Malawi's first orthopaedic hospital, supported by The Beit Trust and Cure International, as well as setting up a spinal and total joint replacement service.
Chris says: "Do I think our 10 years in Malawi were worthwhile? Certainly from the point of view of the thousands of patients I saw and operated on. However with just three surgeons operating in Malawi, the need for surgery, teaching and training is still huge so I urge you to support CBM's continuing work in Malawi."
Contact CBM UK on Tel: 0044 1223 484700 or visit: www.cbmuk.org.uk
Press enquiries: Lisa Smith CBM UK, Tel: 0044 1223 484700 or mobile: 0044 7747
600771
If you wish to make a contribution to the work of CBM in Malawi, please visit our donation page.
Go back: News
Within 6 years, Chris had initiated building Malawi's first orthopaedic hospital, supported by The Beit Trust and Cure International, as well as setting up a spinal and total joint replacement service.
Chris says: "Do I think our 10 years in Malawi were worthwhile? Certainly from the point of view of the thousands of patients I saw and operated on. However with just three surgeons operating in Malawi, the need for surgery, teaching and training is still huge so I urge you to support CBM's continuing work in Malawi."
Contact CBM UK on Tel: 0044 1223 484700 or visit: www.cbmuk.org.uk
Press enquiries: Lisa Smith CBM UK, Tel: 0044 1223 484700 or mobile: 0044 7747
600771
If you wish to make a contribution to the work of CBM in Malawi, please visit our donation page.
Go back: News
