Officially open! Our latest operating room...

Kids Operating Room officially opens newest theatre...

Kids Operating Room have, along with partners Smile Train, officially opened an incredible new paediatric operating room - in Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

The space, which now boasts over 3,000 pieces of dedicated paediatric surgical equipment and decorated with child-friendly scenery, is powered by our innovative solar surgery system.

The issue of unsustainable power is enormous across the African continent. In hospital settings - this issue can be fatal. By leveraging solar power, our system can power an entire theatre for a full day without any reliance on inconsistent national grids or generators, improving both safety & efficiency.

The facility, installed at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, is one of 40 across Africa to benefit from the solar upgrade by 2025.

According to World Bank data, Nigeria has the second highest under-5 mortality rate in the world, with a shocking 107 deaths per 1,000 live births. This alarming statistic means that over 10% of children in Nigeria do not live to see their 5th birthday.

We find this unacceptable.

Kids Operating Room Chief Executive Officer, David Cunningham said, "This dedicated paediatric theatre is a landmark stride for children's healthcare in Nigeria. We're proud to have collaborated with our partners Smile Train to create this facility and three others in the country, which we truly believe will create a brighter, healthier future for children living here. Together, we are achieving our mission of safe surgery for every child."

Life-changing impact

Dr Ijeoma Onwuagha Consultant Plastic Surgeon at UPTH, added: “The support by Smile Train and Kids Operating Room has certainly improved the quality of life for children and the teams working here. We are excited that we have a solar-powered paediatric theatre that alleviates the anxiety associated with power outages during surgery and greenhouse gas emissions from over-reliance on backup generators.”

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Smile Train, our partners in this project, for their invaluable assistance in delivering this life-saving work. Together, we are committed to changing the landscape of child healthcare in Nigeria, and globally, to ensure that more children have the opportunity to lead healthy, fulfilling lives - as they all deserve.

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