MARCH 2011

LENDING A HELPING HAND

San Juan Sacatepéquez, Guatemala – Keir Surgical Ltd.'s commitment to global access to health care evolved through a partnership with Project HANDS (Helping and Nurturing Developing Societies). With the involvement of Keir Surgical, a two week mission to Guatemala organized by Project HANDS was a little more unique than previous trips.

Project HANDS rely heavily on grassroots fundraising to pay for medicine, supplies, staffing, and patient costs of their initiatives; volunteers cover their own travel expenses to keep overhead costs down. Keir Surgical assisted the organization on their March trip through the donation of laparoscopic instruments. The contribution of the instruments enabled the team to perform minimally invasive surgeries that are safer and significantly reduce patient recovery time.

Keir Surgical's president, Michael Fish, and long-time employee, Javier Santacruz, joined the non-profit organization to assist in the surgeries and translate the local language, respectively. Upon their return, Javier reflected on the experience as "a great privilege to help the people in my home country with the support of Michael and Keir Surgical." As a result of the positive surgical outcomes and patient experiences, Keir Surgical has signed up to participate in another surgical mission with Project HANDS in March 2012

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