NZIPCS Charity Surgical Missions with Interplast

Mr Janek Januszkiewicz and Mr Glenn Bartlett recently returned from the Australasian Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons annual scientific meeting in Melbourne where the society and its members reaffirmed their commitment to Interplast Australia and New Zealand as its preferred charity partner. Interplast is a wonderful organisation that sends teams of volunteer plastic surgeons, anaesthetists and nurses to provide life changing surgery and medical training across the Asia Pacific region. Last year Mr Januszkiewicz volunteered his time to travel to Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea where he was able to use his expertise to treat local people with a wide range of serious medical conditions including burns, tumours, hand injuries, congenital anomalies and disabilities relating to cancer or trauma. Earlier this year Mr Bartlett travelled to Honiara in the Solomon Islands for a voluntary Interplast surgical mission focussing on children with cleft lip and palate. These programmes offer the opportunity for free surgical treatment to people who otherwise could not access these procedures. It restores their ability to function and in many cases this plastic and reconstructive surgery is life changing. All of the visiting medical professionals volunteer their time and skills and Interplast organises the necessary medical equipment and supplies so as not to drain local resources. The surgeries themselves make an immediate and significant difference to patient lives however an equally important part of these missions is the education of local medical staff. Mr Januszkiewicz and Mr Bartlett were able to train local surgeons in plastic surgery techniques, boosting their existing skills and teaching them new methods.

“It is such a privilege to be able to travel to distant parts of the pacific region and use my surgical skills to help the lives of people who are less fortunate in terms of their access to healthcare. It was tremendously satisfying to experience gratitude from patients and their families for our efforts on their behalf. I am passionate about surgical education and teaching the local surgical trainees gave equal reward”

Janek Januszkiewicz

 If you would like more information about Interplast Australia and New Zealand please visit the website www.interplast.org.au.