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SIGN is monitoring the situation in Chile where a massive 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck Saturday, February 27. If SIGN's help is needed, our emergency response teams will travel to Chile to assist the earthquake victims.
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In the immediate aftermath of the earthquake
that devastated Haiti on January 12, there was little evidence that hope could arise from the rubble and destruction that
permeated Port-au-Prince. After all, much of the Haitian capital's infrastructure was brought to the ground. Among the casualties
was the city's medical community with hospitals destroyed and medical personnel lost to the quake.
(Read more)
Follow all the latest news from Haiti at any of these locations:
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Millions Injured in the Developing World
Severe fractures occur daily throughout the developing world as a result
of road traffic accidents, violence, and disasters. Many victims are too
poor to afford surgical implants. Local surgeons often have only traction
or casting available to treat complex fractures. They watch in frustration
as their patients lay in traction for months, often with poor results.
SIGN’s mission is to support surgeons in the developing nations by providing
them with training and modern equipment so they can provide immediate surgical
treatment to their patients. As a result, surgeons can treat more patients in a
timely manner, and patients are soon able to walk and return to work to feed and
care for their families. Learn about the SIGN Story
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Did You Know?...
Trauma is one of the major killers of the world, ranked with malaria, TB and HIV/AIDS.
And millions more are injured each year as a result of trauma.
Injury Statistics
- 90% of all injuries occur in developing nations.
- For each person killed by trauma, 3 to 8 more are permanently disabled by trauma.
- About 5 million people die from trauma each year, more or less the same as malaria, TB, and HIV/AIDS combined.
- Road traffic accidents (RTAs) are a leading cause of traumatic injury. Each year 1.2 million are killed in RTAs and 20 to 50 million more are injured.
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Restoring Hope in Kenya
Recent turbulence in Kenya resulted in many poor in need of trauma care.
Thanks to the talented and compassionate SIGN surgeons working within Kenya, many patients were able to receive
immediate treatment for their fractures.
With the addition of Kenyatta Hospital in Nairobi in 2007, the number of SIGN programs in Kenya reached ten.
Programs in Kenya continue to be very successful, serving nearly 400 patients a year. That number is growing.
More applications are being received from hospitals also hoping to provide modern surgical implants and treatment
to their poor patients. Read Kenya’s program profile.
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How Your Donation Helps
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Afghanistan 2008
Dr. Templeman visits patient
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| The decision to go to Afghanistan was precipitated by a letter from Ken Foster, MD. He has worked in Afghanistan for many years. He described the Wazir Akbar Khan Hospital (WAKH) as the largest teaching hospital which serves patients from all over Afghanistan. Trip report |
200 programs in 41 countries
2,000 SIGN surgeons
Over 50,000 patients walking |
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