Performed over 3,300 surgeries in 28 years
When I was 23 years old, after being trained as a mechanic, I chose the civil service over the military service and went to the poorest regions of Bolivia. I lived for 3 years with the “campesinos”, peasants in poor rural areas, and experienced their extreme poverty and daily hardship. The death of six little children due to treatable infections, without any medical assistance, deeply moved me. I decided to become a doctor and to dedicate my life to helping the poor. I graduated in Medicine and Surgery in Italy and returned to Bolivia to build a hospital in an area previously without access to healthcare or electricity. Since then, 28 years have passed and I performed over 3,300 surgeries. Our hospital offers everyday emergency surgery and general surgery to the locals. We ensure that all medical services are for free to those poorest Campesinos who otherwise couldn’t afford them.
Trauma Focus
Hematogenous Osteomyelitis is a severe infection that spreads to the bones through blood. It is a disease of the poor, instigated by immune depression and malnutrition. For a malnourished child, a simple bumping of the leg when playing can result in a severe infection that spreads through the blood and infects the bones. In the poorest areas of Bolivia this disease primarily affects children. In tragic cases, this infection can lead to limb amputation or death. It requires a complex treatment including balanced nutrition, medication and surgeries to treat the infected bone.
Show cost breakdown- $500 per treatment
- 45%: Treatment (Anesthesia and external Traumatologist Surgeon's fee)
- 30%: Medication & treatment
- 15%: Accommodation and food
- 10%: Equipment (radiology and lab)
Some lives changed by Dr. Pietro Gamba
Please note: some stories are graphic and could be upsetting.
Juan
Juan is 7 years old and has 4 little brothers and sisters. He developed hematogenous osteomyelitis of the left upper leg (femur) due to a mere fall. His swollen, infected leg would have led him to death. I had to convince his family to let me treat him, as they adhered traditional beliefs and trust in local wizards called “curanderos”. The teachers of Juan’s school and his classmates spontaneously collected money to help him. Juan is still hospitalized in our Hospital after 5 months, with an external bone fixator, in order to carry on with his nutritional and pharmacological treatment, hoping he will recover within 1 year, unless complications occur. Meanwhile his teacher was asked to give him lessons at the hospital, to avoid him getting behind with the school year.
Andres
Andres is an 11 years old, clever and joyful boy, who has been affected by a severe form of osteomyelitis. His mother brought him to our hospital after several attempts with local traditional healers, with no result. He had a severe complicated infection: his leg was swollen, twisted and had numerous osteocutaneous fistulas. The other leg has been affected as well. Since he was admitted to our hospital we identified a chronic malnutrition, that we have treated on top of his infection. We planned a first surgery to open his tibia, to make a surgical toilet of the bone and to put an external bone fixator. His teacher has come to the hospital to facilitate classes.