Today, December 10, marks International Human Rights Day, coinciding with the date on which the UN General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. Health is a fundamental right that is often undermined in developing countries. However, there are many specialists who altruistically contribute their expertise in solidarity surgeries.
In the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, access to medical care and health is included in Article 25: “Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care […]”.
The principles enshrined in the Declaration apply to everyone in relation to all human rights and freedoms, and prohibit discrimination in categories such as sex, race or color, among others. Non-discrimination is complemented by equality, as stipulated in the first article of the Declaration: “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights”.
In relation to health, the World Health Organization (WHO) states that “the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being”. This translates into acceptable and timely access to health care services of sufficient quality. However, some 100 million people in the world live below the poverty line and it is vulnerable communities that bear an excessive proportion of health problems, because they are often not guaranteed other rights (food, housing, education), which also undermines their health and the right to quality healthcare.
Bringing healthcare closer to countries with fewer economic resources
At Top Doctors we are committed to the WHO’s desire to promote the right to health as an international right. There are many Spanish doctors who, in a totally altruistic way, contribute their knowledge in countries with fewer economic resources, and help to bring healthcare closer to vulnerable communities that do not have the material and professional resources. An example of this is Dr. Esther Lliró, specialist in Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery, who travels several times a year to Africa, with highly organized projects and interventions. Dr. Lliró carries out her solidarity surgeries in Gambia. Some time ago she met Xavi Galindo, founder of Cultivant Vida, an NGO that has been working in Gambia for more than six years. He proposed to the doctor a medical cooperation, and since then they started the project. Xavi lives in Gambia, which facilitates the control of the patients and speeds up the official procedures.
Most frequently operated pathologies: burns and scarring
The after-effects of burns are among the most frequently operated pathologies. “In Gambia, as in other countries with few resources, they only have access to light, cooking or heat through wood fires, with bonfires on the ground. This leads to many accidents, especially among children,” says Dr. Lliró.
Although it is the most frequent pathology, volunteer specialists also intervene congenital malformations and tumors, common pathologies in the population.
The main patients are children and adolescents
Children and adolescents are the most frequently operated on, especially in the case of malformations. “This is also the case with burns, in which approximately 70% are under 15 years of age,” explains Dr. Lliró. This is not the case with tumors, which mainly affect the adult population. In general, the percentages of patients treated are 60% children and 40% adults.
Personal satisfaction and willingness to help, a common thread in solidarity surgeries
Dr. Lliró says she finds great personal satisfaction in solidarity surgeries. “Performing this work allows us to appreciate many things we have that we are not aware of. This makes you realize the harsh reality that exists in the world,” he says. However, he says: “Those of us who do this type of action are selfish because we receive much more than we can offer. In her case, from something sporadic, it has become a habit: it’s like a drug, which makes you want to continue helping those in need.
Dr. Lliró’s case is not isolated. There are many members of Top Doctors who collaborate in solidarity projects, further honoring their healthcare work. This is the case of Dr. Emilio García-Ibáñez and Dr. Luis García-Ibáñez, specialists in Otorhinolaryngology who, thanks to their Foundation, aim to “work and make it possible for people affected by deafness and with precarious economic resources to have access to the most advanced treatments and technologies”. This is also the case of Dr. Diego González Rivas, a prestigious specialist in Thoracic Surgery in A Coruña, who brings his innovative techniques to every corner of the world. Many other specialists also contribute to the work of making healthcare a guaranteed fundamental right, and today it is important to highlight this.