We wish to express our deepest thanks to the many volunteer medical professionals who have offered to serve on a disaster relief surgical mission to Ecuador. Upon learning of the earthquake, we immediately contacted the ISAPS executive office and ISAPS Ecuador National Secretary Dra. Marcela Yépez to extend our collective support to the ISAPS member surgeons and their hospitals. Because the local health system was not being overwhelmed with major traumatic injuries, surgical missions were not felt to be necessary at this time. While there is need to help rebuild portions of the Ecuadorian health infrastructure, including two hospitals that were completely destroyed, we agree that an international reconstructive surgical mission would be unwarranted at this time.
For those who would like to make a charitable donation to assist in recovery efforts, please contact Ashley Winder at ashley@leapmissions.org or call the LEAP office at (972) 566-6550 for more information. Again, we are incredibly grateful for our amazing community of medical professionals. You enable LEAP Global Missions to make a world of difference in the lives of disaster victims.