Our first joint operating room with Smile Train opens in Tanzania
We are delighted to announce that the first renovated paediatric operating room at Bugando Medical Centre in Mwanza, Tanzania, has now opened. This marks the first partnership milestone between Kids Operating Room and Smile Train.
The state-of-the-art paediatric operating room and recovery ward have been outfitted with the latest medical equipment as well as colourful wall art of animals, trains, and balloons—designs that are meant to transform the often-intimidating environment of an operating room into a welcoming, child-friendly space. This dedicated OR is essential for Bugando Medical Centre, which serves a region of over 14 million members of the community and averages over 9,000 operations each year. It will allow the paediatric surgical team to provide essential, life-saving surgical care to children, who in turn will be able to recover in a more comforting environment.

Operating Room at Bugando Medical Centre. Credit: Smile Train
Acting Director General, Dr. Massaga said: “With many patients seeking surgical care at our facilities, children are often neglected when it comes to accessing quality surgery. Being able to prioritize paediatric surgical care empowers our teams to support the next generation.”

Surgeons in new operating room. Credit: Smile Train
By installing world-class surgical facilities and by training surgical teams as paediatric specialists children can get the care they need. By building local capacity in this way, we help to create sustainable healthcare services.
Rosemary Mugwe, Africa Director for KidsOR
The partnership between Kids OR and Smile Train was first announced in July, 2020 and aims to supply over 30 paediatric operating rooms across Africa over the next five years, providing essential, life-saving surgical care to more than 12,000 children. In partnership with the West African College of Surgeons and the College of Surgeons of East, Central and Southern Africa, Smile Train and KidsOR will also support training and education for more than 40 surgeons across Africa, building long-term local surgical capacity.
Rosemary Mugwe and Dr. Esther Njoroge-Muriithi. Credit: Smile Train
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