Regions in Conflict
By Jeanne Dillner, SIGN CEO
We have worked with SIGN Surgeons in regions of conflict since the early 2000s. We are compelled to support these surgeons in their efforts to provide equality of fracture care in harsh conditions.
SIGN shipped implants and instruments to surgeons in Ukraine shortly after the conflict began.
Working in regions of conflict has always been a top priority for Dr. Zirkle. During his service in the Vietnam War, Dr. Zirkle recognized the need to offer civilians the same access to medical care as soldiers. His principle is why SIGN continues to have an active presence in countries with interpersonal violence. In the hands of local surgeons, SIGN is a tool for reducing the tragic consequences of violence.
One of the benefits of visiting and partnering with surgeons in places like Afghanistan, South Sudan, Iraq, Pakistan, Ukraine, Ethiopia, and Haiti is that we can gain a sense of what it is like to be a medical professional in war-torn regions of the world.
We have lived in these places in the chill of winter and the heat of summer and experienced the personal discomfort of power outages. We have listened to the constant traffic of helicopters delivering patients to the Afghanistan National Military Hospital. We have heard the suicide bomb explode and minutes later seen the line of cars arrive at Wazir Akbar Khan Hospital to deliver injured Afghani civilians. We have listened to young surgeons lament that all they know is conflict and loss.
The surgeons who elect to stay and treat war casualties often do so at great personal risk. In many cases, they face direct threats from opposing forces and their governments. Their decision to provide care, no matter the cost, is commendable.
We have bonded with these men and women who remain committed to the patients who rely on them to heal broken bones. We are grateful to our donors, who provide the resources to help the doctors get the education and equipment they need to care for those who arrive at their hospital.
SIGN Surgeons in Ethiopia took Traveling SIGN Sets to conflict areas in 2022.
We hope you enjoy this journey back through SIGN’s history. As we move through 2024, there will be a historical highlight in each newsletter, bonus email messages, and social media posts. If there is something you are interested in learning more about, please email us at info@signfracturecare.org
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