older brothers meaning that from an early age my life was about fighting
early age my life was about fighting
early age my life was about fighting injustice my brothers teased me no end
injustice my brothers teased me no end
injustice my brothers teased me no end and for that I am eternally grateful
and for that I am eternally grateful
and for that I am eternally grateful since the age of two I’ve worn glasses
since the age of two I’ve worn glasses
since the age of two I’ve worn glasses my brothers used to call me four-eyes
my brothers used to call me four-eyes
my brothers used to call me four-eyes that’s what kids in England get called
that’s what kids in England get called
that’s what kids in England get called when they wear glasses apparently it was
when they wear glasses apparently it was
when they wear glasses apparently it was to toughen me up before I hit the scary
to toughen me up before I hit the scary
to toughen me up before I hit the scary world of my first school days life is
world of my first school days life is
world of my first school days life is tough out there and they did well they
tough out there and they did well they
tough out there and they did well they taught me to fight what isn’t right I
taught me to fight what isn’t right I
taught me to fight what isn’t right I spent 10 of my 19 years as a nurse
spent 10 of my 19 years as a nurse
spent 10 of my 19 years as a nurse working with Mercy Ships here in Africa
working with Mercy Ships here in Africa
working with Mercy Ships here in Africa Mercy Ships is a surgical
Mercy Ships is a surgical
Mercy Ships is a surgical non-governmental organization that
non-governmental organization that
non-governmental organization that operates the large world’s largest
operates the large world’s largest
operates the large world’s largest hospital ship the Africa Mercy we’ve
hospital ship the Africa Mercy we’ve
hospital ship the Africa Mercy we’ve provided free surgery to the people of
provided free surgery to the people of
provided free surgery to the people of sub-saharan Africa for over 20 years
sub-saharan Africa for over 20 years
sub-saharan Africa for over 20 years during my time I’ve learnt so much and
during my time I’ve learnt so much and
during my time I’ve learnt so much and one of the most profound that
one of the most profound that
one of the most profound that transformation is possible it takes
transformation is possible it takes
transformation is possible it takes courage it takes daring to believe that
courage it takes daring to believe that
courage it takes daring to believe that something more than meets the eye is
something more than meets the eye is
something more than meets the eye is possible but I have seen it over and
possible but I have seen it over and
possible but I have seen it over and over and over again I’ve seen it in
over and over again I’ve seen it in
over and over again I’ve seen it in people’s physical beings but I’ve seen
people’s physical beings but I’ve seen
people’s physical beings but I’ve seen it in people’s hearts and minds as well
it in people’s hearts and minds as well
it in people’s hearts and minds as well sometimes transformation happens when it
sometimes transformation happens when it
sometimes transformation happens when it seems impossible sometimes beauty is
seems impossible sometimes beauty is
seems impossible sometimes beauty is crafted in the most challenging of
crafted in the most challenging of
crafted in the most challenging of circumstances sometimes transformation
circumstances sometimes transformation
circumstances sometimes transformation happens and is birthed through the magic
happens and is birthed through the magic
happens and is birthed through the magic of a simple idea according to The Lancet
of a simple idea according to The Lancet
of a simple idea according to The Lancet one of the world’s leading medical
one of the world’s leading medical
one of the world’s leading medical journals five billion of the world’s 7.5
journals five billion of the world’s 7.5
journals five billion of the world’s 7.5 billion
billion
billion lack access to safe affordable and
lack access to safe affordable and
lack access to safe affordable and timely surgery five billion that’s
timely surgery five billion that’s
timely surgery five billion that’s two-thirds of the world’s population
two-thirds of the world’s population
two-thirds of the world’s population imagine two out of every three of you in
imagine two out of every three of you in
imagine two out of every three of you in this room wouldn’t get the care that you
this room wouldn’t get the care that you
this room wouldn’t get the care that you needed
needed
needed I’ve seen it firsthand unlikely you have
I’ve seen it firsthand unlikely you have
I’ve seen it firsthand unlikely you have to just a few weeks ago I was traveling
to just a few weeks ago I was traveling
to just a few weeks ago I was traveling in Madagascar picture me white girl
in Madagascar picture me white girl
in Madagascar picture me white girl extreme heat wearing a skirt heels
extreme heat wearing a skirt heels
extreme heat wearing a skirt heels looking all fancy topped with Surgical
looking all fancy topped with Surgical
looking all fancy topped with Surgical hats masks and shoe covers it’s a good
hats masks and shoe covers it’s a good
hats masks and shoe covers it’s a good image isn’t it I looked ridiculously out
image isn’t it I looked ridiculously out
image isn’t it I looked ridiculously out of place I was there to observe surgery
of place I was there to observe surgery
of place I was there to observe surgery a mother in obstructed labor was wheeled
a mother in obstructed labor was wheeled
a mother in obstructed labor was wheeled into the operating room she lay still
into the operating room she lay still
into the operating room she lay still and flat with dark brown eyes wide open
and flat with dark brown eyes wide open
and flat with dark brown eyes wide open her baby had been trying to get out for
her baby had been trying to get out for
her baby had been trying to get out for many many hours and it was decided that
many many hours and it was decided that
many many hours and it was decided that she needed emergency surgery she needed
she needed emergency surgery she needed
she needed emergency surgery she needed a cesarean section in Madagascar it’s
a cesarean section in Madagascar it’s
a cesarean section in Madagascar it’s hard to get to a hospital just a few
hard to get to a hospital just a few
hard to get to a hospital just a few days before I’ve heard of someone being
days before I’ve heard of someone being
days before I’ve heard of someone being carried 87 kilometers
carried 87 kilometers
carried 87 kilometers to reach surgical care 87 kilometers
to reach surgical care 87 kilometers
to reach surgical care 87 kilometers thats 54 miles being carried to safety
thats 54 miles being carried to safety
thats 54 miles being carried to safety the young mother lay waiting exposed
the young mother lay waiting exposed
the young mother lay waiting exposed vulnerable and alone I’m from England
vulnerable and alone I’m from England
vulnerable and alone I’m from England where health care is free and available
where health care is free and available
where health care is free and available to all so I was wondering why the wait
to all so I was wondering why the wait
to all so I was wondering why the wait what was taking surgery so long to begin
what was taking surgery so long to begin
what was taking surgery so long to begin and then it dawned on me that her family
and then it dawned on me that her family
and then it dawned on me that her family must have been busy out serving
must have been busy out serving
must have been busy out serving gathering the money to buy the supplies
gathering the money to buy the supplies
gathering the money to buy the supplies that were needed for
that were needed for
that were needed for surgery this is not normal in one third
surgery this is not normal in one third
surgery this is not normal in one third of the world but this is typical in
of the world but this is typical in
of the world but this is typical in countries where surgery is hard to come
countries where surgery is hard to come
countries where surgery is hard to come by
finally a brown cardboard box arrived
finally a brown cardboard box arrived was that with the supplies that were
was that with the supplies that were
was that with the supplies that were needed for surgery
needed for surgery
needed for surgery the young mother gracefully bent forward
the young mother gracefully bent forward
the young mother gracefully bent forward as the anesthesia provider gave her her
as the anesthesia provider gave her her
as the anesthesia provider gave her her spinal anaesthetic the blue drape hid
spinal anaesthetic the blue drape hid
spinal anaesthetic the blue drape hid her face and as she lay behind it the
her face and as she lay behind it the
her face and as she lay behind it the team began to do the emergency surgery
team began to do the emergency surgery
team began to do the emergency surgery after just a few minutes the baby was
after just a few minutes the baby was
after just a few minutes the baby was out and I heard a cry I could feel the
out and I heard a cry I could feel the
out and I heard a cry I could feel the relief in the room all was well with
relief in the room all was well with
relief in the room all was well with this precious baby girl I was there to
this precious baby girl I was there to
this precious baby girl I was there to observe the team in action and they did
observe the team in action and they did
observe the team in action and they did a fantastic job I saw some equipment
a fantastic job I saw some equipment
a fantastic job I saw some equipment that we had donated and it measured the
that we had donated and it measured the
that we had donated and it measured the mother’s oxygen levels to give the team
mother’s oxygen levels to give the team
mother’s oxygen levels to give the team a warning sign if anything was going
a warning sign if anything was going
a warning sign if anything was going wrong a small thing but huge in the big
wrong a small thing but huge in the big
wrong a small thing but huge in the big picture of safe surgery small but
picture of safe surgery small but
picture of safe surgery small but magical ideas can have life-changing
magical ideas can have life-changing
magical ideas can have life-changing impacts despite the challenges the
impacts despite the challenges the
impacts despite the challenges the mother had accessed the surgery that she
mother had accessed the surgery that she
mother had accessed the surgery that she needed it doesn’t always end like this
needed it doesn’t always end like this
needed it doesn’t always end like this but that day one life if not to have
but that day one life if not to have
but that day one life if not to have been saved in 2014 The Lancet Commission
been saved in 2014 The Lancet Commission
been saved in 2014 The Lancet Commission the team of experts to look at the state
the team of experts to look at the state
the team of experts to look at the state of surgery in low and middle income
of surgery in low and middle income
of surgery in low and middle income countries and to set goals for where it
countries and to set goals for where it
countries and to set goals for where it should be by 2030 and what they agreed
should be by 2030 and what they agreed
should be by 2030 and what they agreed is that what the world deserves is
is that what the world deserves is
is that what the world deserves is universal access to safe affordable
universal access to safe affordable
universal access to safe affordable surgical and anesthesia care when they
surgical and anesthesia care when they
surgical and anesthesia care when they need it I’ve already told you that five
need it I’ve already told you that five
need it I’ve already told you that five billion people in the world don’t have
billion people in the world don’t have
billion people in the world don’t have that sort of access to surgical care
that sort of access to surgical care
that sort of access to surgical care there may be an operating room but the
there may be an operating room but the
there may be an operating room but the equipment might not work the equipment
equipment might not work the equipment
equipment might not work the equipment might work but they might not be able to
might work but they might not be able to
might work but they might not be able to afford it or they might not be able to
afford it or they might not be able to
afford it or they might not be able to get to it in time because maybe there
get to it in time because maybe there
get to it in time because maybe there isn’t even a road and that’s one of the
isn’t even a road and that’s one of the
isn’t even a road and that’s one of the difficulties of fixing surgery to fix
difficulties of fixing surgery to fix
difficulties of fixing surgery to fix surgery you can’t just build more
surgery you can’t just build more
surgery you can’t just build more operating rooms or train more surgeons
operating rooms or train more surgeons
operating rooms or train more surgeons to fix surgery you need to fix
to fix surgery you need to fix
to fix surgery you need to fix everything you need to fix the water you
everything you need to fix the water you
everything you need to fix the water you need to fix the electricity the
need to fix the electricity the
need to fix the electricity the infrastructure the training the biomed
infrastructure the training the biomed
infrastructure the training the biomed technology it’s a really complex thing
technology it’s a really complex thing
technology it’s a really complex thing to do and that’s probably one of the
to do and that’s probably one of the
to do and that’s probably one of the reasons why surgery hasn’t been on the
reasons why surgery hasn’t been on the
reasons why surgery hasn’t been on the agenda until now at Mercy Ships we are
agenda until now at Mercy Ships we are
agenda until now at Mercy Ships we are very well known for our life
very well known for our life
very well known for our life transforming surgery provided to those
transforming surgery provided to those
transforming surgery provided to those who otherwise couldn’t access it some
who otherwise couldn’t access it some
who otherwise couldn’t access it some Bolly seven point four six kilograms of
Bolly seven point four six kilograms of
Bolly seven point four six kilograms of tumor it should not exist it is not
tumor it should not exist it is not
tumor it should not exist it is not acceptable
acceptable
acceptable somebody should have accessed the
somebody should have accessed the
somebody should have accessed the surgery he needed some 36 years ago we
surgery he needed some 36 years ago we
surgery he needed some 36 years ago we did his surgery appears to be care and
did his surgery appears to be care and
did his surgery appears to be care and because we can but what is not as well
because we can but what is not as well
because we can but what is not as well known is our desire to do ourselves out
known is our desire to do ourselves out
known is our desire to do ourselves out of a job
of a job
of a job our vision is to support and strengthen
our vision is to support and strengthen
our vision is to support and strengthen the surgical health systems in the
the surgical health systems in the
the surgical health systems in the countries in which we work from
countries in which we work from
countries in which we work from grassroots to government met level in
grassroots to government met level in
grassroots to government met level in the most impactful way we can we do that
the most impactful way we can we do that
the most impactful way we can we do that by coming alongside the local health
by coming alongside the local health
by coming alongside the local health system and providing high quality
system and providing high quality
system and providing high quality medical education programs like courses
medical education programs like courses
medical education programs like courses and opportunities for professionals to
and opportunities for professionals to
and opportunities for professionals to work alongside experienced surgical
work alongside experienced surgical
work alongside experienced surgical providers as well as that we work with
providers as well as that we work with
providers as well as that we work with the hosting government to help influence
the hosting government to help influence
the hosting government to help influence policy including the development of a
policy including the development of a
policy including the development of a national surgical plan
national surgical plan
national surgical plan we want stories like those of Sam Bonnie
we want stories like those of Sam Bonnie
we want stories like those of Sam Bonnie to come to an end as I said fixing
to come to an end as I said fixing
to come to an end as I said fixing surgery is not easy for the mother
surgery is not easy for the mother
surgery is not easy for the mother awaiting an emergency delivery the
awaiting an emergency delivery the
awaiting an emergency delivery the solution is complex sometimes it
solution is complex sometimes it
solution is complex sometimes it requires large investment and when it
requires large investment and when it
requires large investment and when it lacks the cost of life is catastrophic
lacks the cost of life is catastrophic
lacks the cost of life is catastrophic at worse death or damage to tissues that
at worse death or damage to tissues that
at worse death or damage to tissues that cause constant leaking of urine and at
cause constant leaking of urine and at
cause constant leaking of urine and at best there is no best it is not
best there is no best it is not
best there is no best it is not acceptable and yet the fixes don’t
acceptable and yet the fixes don’t
acceptable and yet the fixes don’t always come at a huge cost sometimes it
always come at a huge cost sometimes it
always come at a huge cost sometimes it comes down to implementing a simple tool
comes down to implementing a simple tool
comes down to implementing a simple tool and that’s why one of our projects has
and that’s why one of our projects has
and that’s why one of our projects has been such a huge success
been such a huge success
been such a huge success the surgical safety checklist produced
the surgical safety checklist produced
the surgical safety checklist produced by the World Health Organization is a
by the World Health Organization is a
by the World Health Organization is a simple tool and yet has the power to
simple tool and yet has the power to
simple tool and yet has the power to dramatically affect safe surgical
dramatically affect safe surgical
dramatically affect safe surgical practice the checklist includes a series
practice the checklist includes a series
practice the checklist includes a series of simple steps from checking that
of simple steps from checking that
of simple steps from checking that you’ve got the right patient to checking
you’ve got the right patient to checking
you’ve got the right patient to checking that you have the blood that you might
that you have the blood that you might
that you have the blood that you might need in an emergency and to check that
need in an emergency and to check that
need in an emergency and to check that you haven’t left anything behind in a
you haven’t left anything behind in a
you haven’t left anything behind in a patient like an instrument simple and
patient like an instrument simple and
patient like an instrument simple and yet this tool has been shown to reduce
yet this tool has been shown to reduce
yet this tool has been shown to reduce mortality and infections by up to 47%
mortality and infections by up to 47%
mortality and infections by up to 47% 47% infections by nearly 35% similar
47% infections by nearly 35% similar
47% infections by nearly 35% similar study since 2009 in the United States
study since 2009 in the United States
study since 2009 in the United States Europe and Africa have reported similar
Europe and Africa have reported similar
Europe and Africa have reported similar results in fact in Madagascar just a few
results in fact in Madagascar just a few
results in fact in Madagascar just a few weeks ago one Hospital told me that
weeks ago one Hospital told me that
weeks ago one Hospital told me that their infection rates had dropped from
their infection rates had dropped from
their infection rates had dropped from 28% to 14% since they had started using
28% to 14% since they had started using
28% to 14% since they had started using this tool
this tool
this tool after the training we had provided in
after the training we had provided in
after the training we had provided in all of their regional hospitals and we
all of their regional hospitals and we
all of their regional hospitals and we want to see the same here and so we’ve
want to see the same here and so we’ve
want to see the same here and so we’ve introduced the checklist so 36 hospitals
introduced the checklist so 36 hospitals
introduced the checklist so 36 hospitals nationwide our desire is that it will
nationwide our desire is that it will
nationwide our desire is that it will dramatically a
dramatically a
dramatically a back to surgical practice and make
back to surgical practice and make
back to surgical practice and make surgery safer here in Berlin and what I
surgery safer here in Berlin and what I
surgery safer here in Berlin and what I love about transformation is that it
love about transformation is that it
love about transformation is that it multiplies by making surgery safer in
multiplies by making surgery safer in
multiplies by making surgery safer in one hospital and then another and then
one hospital and then another and then
one hospital and then another and then another a whole nation can be changed
another a whole nation can be changed
another a whole nation can be changed how can something so simple make surgery
how can something so simple make surgery
how can something so simple make surgery safer and save lives
safer and save lives
safer and save lives the surgical safety checklist is a
the surgical safety checklist is a
the surgical safety checklist is a magical idea at Mercy Ships we are very
magical idea at Mercy Ships we are very
magical idea at Mercy Ships we are very used to seeing huge tumors and believing
used to seeing huge tumors and believing
used to seeing huge tumors and believing that there is more than meets the eye we
that there is more than meets the eye we
that there is more than meets the eye we see beauty we see potential we see lives
see beauty we see potential we see lives
see beauty we see potential we see lives that have been created to be lived
that have been created to be lived
that have been created to be lived really believe that transformation is
really believe that transformation is
really believe that transformation is possible we see it every day not just in
possible we see it every day not just in
possible we see it every day not just in individuals but for nations and we want
individuals but for nations and we want
individuals but for nations and we want to be part of it we believe that it is
to be part of it we believe that it is
to be part of it we believe that it is magical and one day we want to do
magical and one day we want to do
magical and one day we want to do ourselves out of a job surgery
ourselves out of a job surgery
ourselves out of a job surgery accessible for all 7.5 billion people in
accessible for all 7.5 billion people in
accessible for all 7.5 billion people in the world imagine let’s face it we’re
the world imagine let’s face it we’re
the world imagine let’s face it we’re all four eyed little girls in some form
all four eyed little girls in some form
all four eyed little girls in some form who want to be seen for who we are who
who want to be seen for who we are who
who want to be seen for who we are who want everything to be fair for justice
want everything to be fair for justice
want everything to be fair for justice to be done for me my passion is health
to be done for me my passion is health
to be done for me my passion is health care what is yours do you have the
care what is yours do you have the
care what is yours do you have the courage and vision it takes to believe
courage and vision it takes to believe
courage and vision it takes to believe that you could be part of multiplying
that you could be part of multiplying
that you could be part of multiplying the magic of an idea
the magic of an idea
the magic of an idea [Applause]
”
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