The third mission from KDD (Ka Dounia Dia = Celebrate Life) to Ivory Coast (West Africa) was aimed at paediatric orthopaedic surgical intervention at the Don Orione Center in Bonoua, and further investigation in setting up an orthopaedic surgery health centre in the city of Korhogo in the North of Ivory Coast in the near future.

The Dutch/Belgian medical team from the St. Maartenskliniek in Nijmegen (Dick van der Schaaf, Jan Vermeiren, Erika Klein Hanefeld and assistant Freek Holman) performed surgery on 24 patients, including 7 with clog feet (of which 2 bilateral), 3 X legs, 2 O legs, 5 recovery operations of non accreted leg or arm fractures, 2 complete hip replacements, 1 fixation of the knee, 3 removals of metal plates and 1 burned skin amendmend, in close collaboration with the local Ivorian Don Orione team of Dr. Monsea and Dr. Claude.  The team was expanded by pedagogical consultant Linda Roosen, who investigated in the different areas of organisation of the treatment for handicapped children.

Together with Director Father Riccardo of Don Orione, and in close collaboration with the medical team, the design of a new medical center in Korhogo has been prepared. Quotes have been received, and the next step wil be for Don Orione and KDD to solicitate funding for this 2016 project.

The total intervention cost of this mission was 5.150 euro.
A next mission is scheduled for January/February 2016.

KDD would like to express their deepest appreciation to the whole Dutch/Belgian medical team and to Director Father Riccardo of Don Orione Center Bonoua and his staff.